World Café Protocol

PURPOSE: This protocol is useful when teams must examine and articulate assumptions, beliefs and
values, sort through new ideas or concepts, as well as brainstorm possible next steps for teachers and
students.

The Protocol

1. The greatest challenge is to develop effective questions that will move participants to engage
and react in meaningful ways. Develop four or five questions for the participants that will
facilitate the desired learning outcomes. Scaffold the questions so that initial questions are
relatively safe, while more probing questions should be introduced once comfort is established
with this activity. (see How Can I Frame Better Questions?)
2. Organize tables and chairs so that there are approximately four participants at each table. A
piece of chart paper should be placed atop each table. Review the norms before beginning the
activity.
3. Distribute a marker to each participant and invite them to select a seat. Explain that participants
will discuss the question and they are free to respond orally or in writing (both through words
and pictures) to the question or any comment that emerges from the group.

ROUND 1:

1. Post the first prompt and provide me for participants to respond (5 – 8 minutes). Ask participants to
leave one person behind at their table to host the next group. All other participants are invited to select
a new seat and groups will now be mixed again.

2. Once participants arrive at their new table, the host will greet them and share some of the learning
that emerged from the last dialogue (5 minutes).

ROUND 2:

3. Now the new small group will receive a second prompt and the members will have the opportunity to
respond to this second prompt.

4. The same host will remain at the table and the other participants will find new seats. This process is
continued as many times as necessary; however, I would not suggest using any more than four or five
questions.

5. On the last move, participants are asked to review their learning with their group and share what they
felt was the most important message.

6. Essential understandings are recorded on the chart paper. 7. The essential understandings are then
shared with the whole group and posted for future dialogue.

7. Debrief the learning and the process with the group by asking: “What did you discover?” “How did
this process work for you?”
Adapted from: http://www.uen.org/literacyresources/downloads/Learning_Forward_Power_of_Protocols.pdf