Share‌ ‌Pair‌ ‌Circles‌

30 min | Team Individual | Discussion Coping with uncertainty, ambiguity and risk Management

The Challenge

A method which involves having all the students find solutions to problems in a collaborative manner.

List of required equipment

Pen
Paper

What can students learn from this?

Students learn to communicate problems and to suggest solutions. Students have the possibility to collaborate with half of the class and relate to colleagues who may not usually be their working/communication partners. Mutual help, understanding, support and tolerance can be developed through this activity.

How can I do this in class?

The method requires that the class be divided in two groups of equal numbers of students. The two groups form two concentrical circles. The students of the inner circle face and pair up students from the outer circle. Each student on the inner circle will have a pair on the outer circle. At the teacher’s signal, the outer circle rotates clockwise and the pairs change.

The teacher poses a problem which needs to be solved. The two groups are formed and organised as two circles, one containing the other. Students discuss in pairs; at the teacher’s signal, the pairs change and the discussion starts again. The students may take notes. At the end, the solutions are analysed as a class, frontally. A comprising synthesis is made and organised as a diagram.

Reflection tips

If students are less skilled at discussing the points, the teacher can take preparatory steps:

The teacher will offer a set of questions to guide students through to the completion of the analysis.
The set of questions can be presented before the activity starts. The students can be offered time to gather ideas individually, before they discuss their findings with their peers.
Students will be advised to take notes of the main ideas which result from the discussions.
Students will be invited to make a synthesis of the discussions before they present the new ideas to the class.
The solutions will be ranked – which have the best outcomes at the lowest risks.

In order to prepare students to become proficient at analysing risks and making decisions, teachers can present them with ethical dilemmas to discuss. For examples and lesson plans, please refer to: Ethical & Moral Dilemmas for Classroom Discussion: THE DAILY DILEMMA ARCHIVE.