Wagon Wheel Brainstorm Protocol
NSRF, Spring 2015
Facilitation Difficulty:
50 min.
Any size group
P
No preconference
Purpose — To stimulate lots of generative thinking (brainstorming) in a very short time around a topic or
problem. This protocol also fosters powerful thinking between people who might not know each other, or
not know each other well. Because the protocol asks participants to talk with several people, participants
develop a strong sense of being a single team with a common purpose.
Group size — Any size group can use the Wagon Wheel, divided into “wheels” of eight. If necessary, modify
the preparation instructions below to account for a wheel of ten or twelve.
Preparation — This protocol requires a fairly large space. For each wheel of eight participants, set up four
chairs back to back to form the hub of a wheel and four chairs facing the hub chairs, forming the wheel’s
spokes. This protocol can work one of two ways, with different preparation:
• Prepare one question that will be discussed by all participants, in sequential pairs. For example, “How can we make time for more professional development in our schedule?” Each participant
will have a conversation with four different partners about this one topic. With this option, chart or
project the question so that everyone in the group can see it at all times.
• Prepare multiple questions around a related theme or topic, one for each time the “wheel” rotates. For example, “How can we make time for more professional development in our schedule?”
“What topics might you want to see offered?” “How can we assess whether the professional development we receive is having an impact on student learning?” “How might we use our own faculty
better as resources for professional development?” Each participant will discuss one question each
with four different partners. With this option, display and reveal the questions one at a time. (See
Step 4 below.)
Remember to bring sufficient Post-it® notes and pens for the entire group
Steps:
1.
Setup — (2 min.) Review the steps in advance.
2.
Divide — (2 min.) Ask eight participants to take their seats in each wheel, bringing their notetaking
devices or materials with them. Encourage them to sit in wheels with people they don’t know well, as
many “strangers” as possible.
3.
Instruct — (1 min.) Explain that each pair will have about five minutes to try to answer one question
with their partner. During that time, each pair should first strive to reach a common understanding of
what the question means and then generate as many responses to that question as they can. If time
is available, the pairs can flesh out details of the ideas they like best. Ask them to take notes of both
their own ideas as well as their partner’s, as these will be shared with the whole group later in the
protocol.
4.
Reflect — (2 min.) Show the question (or the first one) and read it aloud. Give participants time to
think silently about their response to the question and write notes.
5.
Discuss — (5 min.) Hub/spoke pairs should first talk to ensure a common understanding of the question, then share their responses with each other, building upon the ones they both like, while taking
© 2016, NSRF®. Permission is granted to copy for use in classrooms or in meetings including Critical Friends Group® meetings. For other use, please call
the NSRF office at 812-330-2702 or email nsrf@nsrfharmony.org. Protocols are most powerful and effective when used within an ongoing professional learning community facilitated by an NSRF-certified CFG® coach. To learn more about professional learning communities and trainings for new or
experienced coaches, please visit the National School Reform Faculty® website at www.nsrfharmony.org.
Wagon Wheel Brainstorm Protocol page 1 of 2
notes of their conversation.
6.
Rotate — (1 min.) Ask the partners to thank each other and say goodbye. Instruct the “spokes,” the
people on the outside of the wheel, to move one seat to the right. The people at the hub will remain
in their seats for the entire protocol.
7.
Rounds two through four — (24 min.) Repeat Steps 4-6 three more times.
8.
Reflect — (2 min.) Have participants silently choose their favorite idea for each question, and write
them down on sticky notes (one note per idea). Make sure they label the top of each note with the
question or topic. It does not matter whether the favorite idea was originated by them or one of their
partners.
9.
Share — (2 min.) Post large flip chart sheets with the topic question on the top around the room and
have participants post their favorite ideas on the appropriate sheet.
10. Debrief — (5-10 min.)
• What interesting ideas came out of the protocol?
• Did you find anything surprising or significant?
• What did you think of the protocol itself? What worked well? What was difficult?
• What are the advantages/disadvantages to this protocol? How might you use it in your work?
Next Steps:
The Wagon Wheel is designed as a vehicle for reflective brainstorming. Now that many ideas have been
generated, it is important to decide how to use them in the best possible way. Here are some possible next
steps:
Break up the group so that teams of participants review each piece of chart paper in Step 9 as in Affinity Mapping — sort and cluster the notes for each question, label the clusters, and share them out with
the whole group. Discuss the pros and cons of each idea (or cluster), selecting one or two to implement and, ideally, assigning specific people or teams to next steps for each.
Alternately, create focus groups to explore specific topics further and to plan how to put the powerful ideas into action. Each group could focus on one question and then share their proposals with the
whole group.
© 2016, NSRF®. Permission is granted to copy for use in classrooms or in meetings including Critical Friends Group® meetings. For other use, please call
the NSRF office at 812-330-2702 or email nsrf@nsrfharmony.org. Protocols are most powerful and effective when used within an ongoing professional learning community facilitated by an NSRF-certified CFG® coach. To learn more about professional learning communities and trainings for new or
experienced coaches, please visit the National School Reform Faculty® website at www.nsrfharmony.org.
Wagon Wheel Brainstorming Protocol page 2 of 2