Driven by Wonder|Lead by Learners
www.agileclassrooms.com
The Wonder Cafe
Wonder Cafe
I Wonder •What might happen if we let wonder drive learning?
•What if learners were the experts, teaching each other?
•What if we had a process that was quick, easy, fun, and where everyone was a leader?
A lightly structured and democratic way for participants to explore topics they wonder about. It liberates voice and choice through a time-boxed process that makes wonderment visible. The Wonder Cafe can be used for reviews, group reflections, study groups, inquiry based learning, staff meetings, and more.
Wonder Cafe
Coffee Vector Designed by Freepik
Wonder Cafe
Step 1
Setup
Choose a Wonder Host
Facilitates the Wonder Cafe.Moves the Wonder Topic cards.Ensure Wonder Cafe Rules are followed.Manages the time-boxes.The host has permission to interrupt and ask a participant to “bottom line”.
Form Wonder Cafe Groups
Form groups of 4-12. Submit and vote on Wonder Topics All guests are “the expert”, the group provides answers and insights. One person speaking at a time. Bottom line. Get to the point quickly so others can contribute.
Supplies
Version 12-23-15 Adapted from leancoffee.org
The Wonder Cafe
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License© 2015 Agile Classrooms www.agileclassrooms.com
1 Wonder Cafe Card Deck
Download from AgileClassrooms.com or make your own.
2 Group Tables Group size 4-12 participants
3 Index Cards Or use sticky notes or blank slips of paper
4 Pens Any writing instrument.
5 TimerTime-boxing is essential in Wonder Cafe. Have a timer that counts down and signals when time is
up.
Setup The Wonder Cafe Table
Wonder Cafe
Step 2
Brainstorm Wonders
How Do You…? What is…?
Where does…? Why Do…?
Is there…?
What if…?
Let’s brainstorm what you are Wondering
about today.
•Silently, guests write down their Wonder Topics on index cards.
•1 Wonder Topic / Card •No limit to the number of Wonder Topics.
•3 Minute Time-box
Wonder Cafe
Step 3
Vote on Wonders
How Do You…?
What if…?Why Do…?
What is…?
Where does…?
Is there…?
Vote on what you all want to
discuss today.
•Each guests gets 3 votes each.
•Place a dot on the Wonder Topic card they want to vote for.
•2 minute time-box
Is there…?
Where does…?
What is…?
We Wonder...
Write inquiry on cards (1/card)
Dot vote ideas (3 dots each)
Order cards based on votes
W
DISCUSSING
Set Timer for agreed upon minutes Discuss freely When timer goes off, Roman Vote. Reset Timer
Done
Move cards that are done here.
Why Do…?
Here is the order of topics based on your
votes.
Wonder Cafe
Step 4
Discuss
Is there…?
Where does…?
What is…?
We Wonder...
Write inquiry on cards (1/card)
Dot vote ideas (3 dots each)
Order cards based on votes
W
DISCUSSING
Set Timer for agreed upon minutes Discuss freely When timer goes off, Roman Vote. Reset Timer
Done
Move cards that are done here.
Why Do…?
Let’s start with the topic most important to us. We have 2 minutes to
discuss the topic.
•Everyone can contribute. •Participants are the experts. •2-3 minute time-box
Is there…?
Where does…?
What is…?
We Wonder...
Write inquiry on cards (1/card)
Dot vote ideas (3 dots each)
Order cards based on votes
W
DISCUSSING
Set Timer for agreed upon minutes Discuss freely When timer goes off, Roman Vote. Reset Timer
Done
Move cards that are done here.
Why Do…?
Let’s start with the topic most important to us. We have 2 minutes to
discuss the topic.
•Everyone can contribute. •Participants are the experts. •2-3 minute time-box
Wonder Cafe
Step 5
Manage Discussion Flow
The timer went off. Roman vote if we going
to continue with the topic?
Continue Topic
Not Sure
Next Topic
•Everyone votes at the same time.
•If a tie, host decides.
Is there…?
Where does…?
What is…?
We Wonder...
Write inquiry on cards (1/card)
Dot vote ideas (3 dots each)
Order cards based on votes
W
DISCUSSING
Set Timer for agreed upon minutes Discuss freely When timer goes off, Roman Vote. Reset Timer
Done
Move cards that are done here.
Why Do…?
If we vote to CONTINUE, I reset the timer and we discuss
the topic again.
Is there…?
Where does…?
What is…?
We Wonder...
Write inquiry on cards (1/card)
Dot vote ideas (3 dots each)
Order cards based on votes
W
DISCUSSING
Set Timer for agreed upon minutes Discuss freely When timer goes off, Roman Vote. Reset Timer
Done
Move cards that are done here.
Why Do…?
If we vote that we are DONE this topic, we’ll
move the topic to Done and move the next card
over to Discussing.
Is there…?
Where does…?
What is…?
We Wonder...
Write inquiry on cards (1/card)
Dot vote ideas (3 dots each)
Order cards based on votes
W
DISCUSSING
Set Timer for agreed upon minutes Discuss freely When timer goes off, Roman Vote. Reset Timer
Done
Move cards that are done here.
Why Do…?
If we vote that we are DONE this topic, we’ll
move the topic to Done and move the next card
over to Discussing.
Wonder Cafe
Step 6
Takeaways
Is there…?
Where does…?
What is…?
We Wonder...
Write inquiry on cards (1/card)
Dot vote ideas (3 dots each)
Order cards based on votes
W
DISCUSSING
Set Timer for agreed upon minutes Discuss freely When timer goes off, Roman Vote. Reset Timer
Done
Move cards that are done here.
Why Do…?
We are done our discussions! (out of
time or all topics done) Yay!
My Take Away
Before your wrap-up, shout out or write or post sticky notes of what your takeaway is from the session.
I learned…. Look Into….Get Help
from….
I was Surprised
By… I appreciated… I noticed….
Before we go, write or shout out one key takeaway for you.
Wonder Cafe
Attributions
Learn more about Wonder Cafe here: http://www.agileclassrooms.com/#!wonder-cafe/kdp2t
Wonder Cafe is adapted for schools from Lean Coffee leancoffee.org
Icons and vectors provided by freepik.com and Flaticon.com
Thank You
I hope you try this in your classroom, club, or staff meeting.
Contact me if you do, I would love to hear how it works for you or if you have any questions.