World Café
A large conversation across many tables: after each round you move on and cross-pollinate ideas, then harvest common patterns together. Related to Liberating Structures. Developed by Juanita Brown & David Isaacs.
Time
40–90 min
Form
All together
Phase
Process
Materials
Classroom basics
Step-by-step instructions
2 of 3 steps shown · 40–90 min
- Theme on the table
Each table gets its own theme, or its own angle on the central question. Write that theme large on the sheet in the middle of the table. If you are working with a host, pick one per table now. - Table round
Discuss the theme at your table and write ideas, words and sketches straight onto the sheet. At the end of the round everybody moves on to another table; the sheet stays put. At a new table you first read what is there — or hear it from the host — and build on that. This round repeats: three rounds means everyone works through three themes.
The rest comes with a free account
The remaining steps, the timer and the printables. Registering is free and takes a minute.
Register for freeTips for the facilitator
Building on other people's ideas
The host stays — the ideas travel
A big group, one question for all
The harvest shows the common threads
- One central, open question — set it in the settings (e.g. "What makes our class stronger?"). Open enough to invite many answers, focused enough to stay on topic.
- Tables of 4–5, with a sheet in the middle to jot ideas on. Set the number of rounds and the time per round (default 3 rounds × 8 min).
- A host (table guardian) per table who stays each round and briefly recaps for newcomers.
- Time for the harvest at the end — set it in the settings (default 10 min) — to gather the common patterns as a whole group.
- One question or a theme per table: keep one central question across all tables, or give each table its own sub-theme (write it on the sheet).
- More or fewer rounds: more rounds deepen the cross-pollination; fewer keep it short.
- Rotating hosts: let a different person host each round instead of one fixed host.
- Visual harvest: collect the patterns on a wall or board rather than only out loud.
- Smaller setting: with one or two tables it becomes a layered group conversation rather than a full café.
- Team / staff day: "What makes our team strong?" — building a shared vision.
- Mentoring / class: "What do we need to work well together?"
- Citizenship / social studies: a societal question explored from many angles.
- Languages / literature: interpretations of a theme or text across tables.
- Project kick-off: gathering ideas and directions before deciding.
World Café is related to the Liberating Structures and was developed by Juanita Brown and David Isaacs. It rests on the idea that knowledge and good ideas already live within a group, and that moving between small conversations lets them cross-pollinate into a shared picture. It develops collective thinking, listening across viewpoints, and building on each other's ideas.
Pairs well with
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