Fishbowl

Overview

The Fishbowl is a method that facilitates dialogue between experts, exposing others to their knowledge and expanding the collective understanding of a subject. During the session, knowledgeable persons/speakers (the fish) become the focus of attention and discuss a series of directional questions. They are surrounded by a larger group of listeners and observers (the bowl). A variation of the method allows participants to move from the bowl to the fish, to share the opportunity of speaking and listening among all participants.

Use this method to:

• Foster dynamic participation and conversation
• Share expertise while avoiding lengthy presentations
• Build skills in listening, storytelling, pattern-finding, questioning, and observing
• Use as an alternative to traditional debates or panel discussions