Round Robin

Round Robin is primarily a brainstorming technique in which students generate ideas but do not elaborate, explain, evaluate, or question the ideas. Group members take turn responding to a question with a word, phrase, or short statement. The order of responses is organised by proceeding from one student to another until all students have had the opportunity to speak.

Round robin can also be conducted in writing, where the students pen down their ideas on a piece of paper/index card.

Round Robin is useful for knowledge-building, as students interact with each other to review information that they know.

• Students actively engaged with the brainstorming session, including students who typically remain silent during class discussions.
• Students actively listening to the ideas shared by others as they are not allowed to repeat ideas already shared by others.
• Students interact with each other in ways that help them acquire social skills and character virtues.

1. Teacher asks students to form groups of four to six.
2. Teacher presents the brainstorming topic and context.
   • Explain that the purpose of brainstorming is to generate many ideas.
   • Inform students that to prevent interrupting or inhibiting the flow of ideas, they must refrain from evaluating, questioning, or discussing their ideas.
   • Teacher sets the time limits for each students to speak/pen down their thoughts and for the whole round-robin exercise.
3. At the given signal, the group members will take turns, moving clockwise, and respond to the question.
4. Ask one student to begin the activity by stating an idea or answer aloud/pen them down. The next student continues, moving from member to member in sequence, until all students have participated. The teacher may choose to use technology for this purpose.
5. During this period, the teacher may record interesting ideas and central points raised.
6. Within their own small groups, every group members elaborates on their ideas followed by a group discussion.
7. After the small group discussion, the teacher may revisit some of the interesting ideas/central points recorded earlier and invite students/groups to share with the whole class.

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