For my undergraduate class, I have large class (more than 50 students) with a normal size classroom. So, it is quite challenging to conduct round robin activity if they sit in their seats like this example. It is something that I can envision in my dream only.
What I have to do is to improvise. Rather than having them to stay put in their seats and divide them into groups and each member in a group share their ideas, what I do is I group them into several groups with minimum 5 members in each group (59/12 group = 5 members each more or less).
How to conduct round robin activity?
Steps:
- Think about a topic that you want to discuss.
- Decide on the amount of questions or topics you would like to be discussed. In my case, with 12 groups, I have 3-4 questions and thus, there will be some groups with similar questions. In this case, I want to have a variety of ideas from different groups. Note: I give each group a mahjung paper and marker pens. They have to write their ideas in a poster format (using point form)
- Set a timer for the group discussion. I set 30 minutes for this activity. Since the class is a bit small, I allow them to go outside the classroom so that they can prepare their poster using mahjung paper.
- After they have finished their poster, I ask them to post their poster on the wall. Each group has to stay near to their poster.
- They present their ideas by taking turn. So, rather than allowing them to move around (it can become uncontrollable), every student would present at their own station (the wall where they post their poster becomes their station). Other students have to listen and they are allowed to ask any question to the presenting group.
To present their ideas to others, you can also do this.
- If you don’t mind to have students to move around (this could be a bit noisy), you can ask each member to select one person to stay at their station while the rest will go around to other station.
- The one left behind is assigned to be the presenter. So, when other group members visit each station, the one who left behind has to present/explain what his/her group ideas to the visitors.