World Café

World Café Conversations are one way that students can share, analyze, apply, and evaluate curricular content together. Students discuss questions related to a chosen topic, elevating the discussion with each round, or “course” of the activity. As students discuss, they write notes, illustrate, and create diagrams that reflect student responses on the tablecloths. At the conclusion of the activity, the tablecloths are hung around the room and used as visual prompts while the class debriefs the activity.

The World Café is:

• an innovative yet simple methodology for hosting conversations about questions that matter.

• a way to link and build on each learner’s ideas as they move between groups, cross-pollinate ideas, and discover new insights into the questions or issues that are most important in their life.

• a way to evoke and make visible the collective intelligence of any group, thus increasing learners’ capacities for effective action in pursuit of common aims.

Implementing a World Cafe: The environment is set up like a café.

• PRIOR TO THE ACTIVITY: Arrange the room so that there are tables for discussion. The number of tables will vary based upon the complexity of the topic, number of students, time constraints, and other considerations. Each table is covered with a large piece of paper to act as the tablecloth. Place colored markers around the tables (like silverware). The café environment may be enhanced by adding flowers, quiet music, and refreshments.

• TO BEGIN THE ACTIVITY: Each student receives a menu and sits at a table. One person at each table is the table host/hostess. The hosts/hostesses will not rotate during each round. Instead, they will summarize prior discussions and act as table monitors during the activity. The students conduct a series of conversational rounds, using the question “courses” indicated on the luncheon menu. Students record key points of the conversations on the paper with the colored markers.

• A signal is given to end the current conversation “course” and begin a new one. Students rotate to a new table to begin discussing the next question “course.” This is done for each round of conversation. As appropriate, the end of a course can be an opportunity to re-group students.

• Table hosts welcome newcomers to their tables and share the essence of that table's conversation so far. Newcomers may use the key points left by the previous group to initiate the conversation, but they may not linger on the previous question. Newcomers relate any conversational threads which they are carrying and then the conversation continues, deepening as the round progresses.

• At the conclusion of the activity, the class gathers to share and explore emerging themes and insights which are captured on the tablecloths.

Role of the Teacher

The teacher is the maitre’de. The teacher circulates to make sure that guests are focused on their meal, i.e. the topic of each round. The teacher may offer suggestions, questions, or brief comments, but to the degree possible, students should drive the conversation. Structure is provided by announcing the service of each “course,” reading the question aloud for all students to consider.

The seven design principles of World Café are:

• Set the context

• Create hospitable space

• Explore questions that matter

• Encourage everyone's contribution

• Cross-pollinate and connect diverse perspectives

• Listen together for patterns, insights, and deeper questions

• Harvest and share collective discoveries

Cold War Cafe Simulation.doc