A fi shbowl is a discussion strategy that seeks
to maximise participation in identifying and
understanding issues in response to set questions.
Questions for discussion are prepared and
considered one at a time. Fishbowl participants are
assigned to either a listening or a discussion group.
The two discreet groups are positioned so that the
listening group is seated around the discussion
group (usually in concentric circles).
The fi rst discussion group has an agreed
amount of time to discuss the question (only one
question per discussion round). During the active
discussion, the listening group takes notes and
prepares commentary. The groups then swap
places and the listening group provides rebuttal or
further examination of the issues discussed and