Fishbowl

A group of volunteer students have a debate, do a roleplay or perform a specific task in front of the class. The rest of the class watches and discusses at the end.

Promotes: Analysis and critical thinking, Knowledge integration and synthesis

• Fishbowl Teaching Technique – Video (K. Patricia Cross Academy).
• Adapting Fishbowl for Online Teaching – Video (K. Patricia Cross Academy).

The Fishbowl technique is another popular active learning technique that allows students to practice active listening and debate. Two students or groups of students position themselves in the center or front of the room to engage in a debate, discussion or role-play while students on the periphery are tasked with listening to the debate and deciding on which of the two sides was the most compelling and convincing. At the end of the session, the whole class comes together and a large group discussion follows as a way of summarizing key points and findings.

Fishbowl (Flexible classroom)

This illustration shows a series of figures representing a small group of six students seated at the centre of a classroom space, tasked with presentating opposing opinions as part of a debate. There are two larger groups of students seated on either side of the debate group representing audience members who are tasked with listening and responding to the debate as learners and/or adjudicators. This setup is suggested for flexible seating classroom spaces such as classrooms or open spaces.     

Fishbowl (Fixed classroom)

This illustration shows a series of figures representing a small group of six students seated at the front of a classroom space, tasked with presentating opposing opinions as part of a debate. There is one larger group of students seated in front of the debate group representing audience members who are tasked with listening and responding to the debate as learners and/or adjudicators. This setup is suggested for fixed seating classroom spaces such as auditoriums.