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Methods for encouraging more equal participation EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE A common problem with group discussions is when they are not 'group discussions' at all. They are discussions happening in a group setting but in which not all of the group are participating. They become more like panel discussions in front of an audience. A few people dominate, and when quieter people are eventually asked to contribute there may not be much left to say on the issue. Some methods for creating more equal opportunities to join in are described below. Tips for over-enthusiastic facilitators: All of these methods are intrusive and in most circumstances are probably best used as a temporary but memorable gimmick, rather than as 'normal' procedure for discussions. None of these methods should be taken too seriously - especially if your ultimate aim is to have free-flowing discussions without the aid of these 'corrective' methods. Top

ON THIS PAGE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES PARTICIPATION LINE-UP THE CONCH MATCHSTICKS BISCUITS BALL OF WOOL alternating GOLDFISH BOWL

PARTICIPATION LINE-UP Ask the group to LINE UP with the person who participates most at one end, the person who participates least at the other, with everyone else in order in between. The group now sit in order in a 'C' shape. When using ROUNDS (when each person is asked to contribute in turn) the 'quietest' person has the first chance to participate, and the 'loudest' completes the round. Tip: Springing this idea upon a group may make matters worse. A more cautious (and respectful) approach can work better. Describe what the method involves and ask the group (the whole group!) if they would like to try it out. Whether or not you end up using this technique, there is likely to be a change for the better following a discussion about the desirability of using this (or any other) technique. Top THE CONCH During the island meetings in William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies', only the holder of the conch shell is allowed to speak. The 'conch' (any item, but 'precious' rather than throwable) can be used to control group discussion. To ensure equal opportunities for participation, the rule is that the conch is always passed to the left, and is quickly passed on if the holder has nothing to say. Every few minutes (or after every round), there is a random swapping of seats, so that the sequence of speakers is changed. Top MATCHSTICKS Ask the group to try this for the first part of the review. Each person has (say) 5 safety matches. Throwing a match into a bucket in the middle stops the speaker immediately and allows the interrupter to speak until another match is thrown in. When somebody runs out of matches, decide very quickly whether to (a) stick rigidly to the rules; (b) be flexible and allow the group to revise the rules; (c) abandon 'matchsticks' altogether. Top BISCUITS Very similar to matchsticks, but a more entertaining way to even up participation in a group. Each time someone contributes to the discussion they take a biscuit and must eat it all before they take part again. Top BALL OF WOOL A ball of wool which unwinds as it is passed from speaker to speaker can reveal interesting patterns, (but can also become so intrusive that everyone drifts off the original subject and ends up talking about wool.) An alternative is for an observer to draw (unobtrusively) the course that the wool would have followed. Top ALTERNATING GOLDFISH BOWL Half the group sit in an inner circle and review the activity while the other half sit in the outer circle and listen. When the reviewer calls 'swap', seats are changed and the new inner circle continues with the review after providing a quick summary of the main points made by the previous inner circle.

ON THIS PAGE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES PARTICIPATION LINE-UP THE CONCH MATCHSTICKS BISCUITS BALL OF WOOL alternating GOLDFISH BOWL

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