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.