What is Carousel Brainstorming Technique?

Carousel Brainstorming Technique or Rotating Review is a strategy used to help students learn new information or review existing information through movement and reflection. This strategy facilitates the development of group skills (brainstorming, discussion, communicating information) and also promotes active learning within the classroom.

In this technique, students are divided into different groups and instructed to walk around different stations set up in the classroom, brainstorming and reflecting on certain questions for a specific duration of time.  Each station helps students activate their prior knowledge, process new information and share it with others.

The technique has great potential as a closure activity and is also a good assessment tool, as it assists in evaluating the students’ understanding and knowledge about the topic.

Carousel technique in the classroom

Certain factors need to be considered for the implementation of this technique:

Arrangement of the classroom: The classroom is arranged to include various stations. It is important to number each station, to enable easy movement and avoid confusion around each station.

Questions: Each station will have a question that needs to be answered by the groups. This question should stimulate discussion among the students regarding a new concept, linking previous learning to the new information, critical analysis or application of the concept being taught. The paper with the question can be put up either on the wall or on the table forming the station.

Student groups: Students are divided into groups of four or five. Each group is given a marker of a different color to allow for easy identification of the responses. Each group will start from a particular station i.e. Group 1 will start from station 1 and proceed to station 2, 3, and so on. Likewise, group 2 will start from station 2 and proceed to station 3, 4 and so forth.

Apart from their response to the particular question, students are encouraged to read through the other responses and add in their thoughts on the same.

Timing: At each station, students are allotted three to five minutes to discuss and write down their responses. A bell can be used to signal changing of stations.

Discussion round: As an end to the session a discussion can be initiated. The response sheet will give you an idea about similar and contrasting responses and other queries that can be discussed further, thus encouraging active student participation and learning.

Discuss here: What are some brainstorming strategies that you use in the classroom?

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