Method guide · Progress through phases
Rotating Table Dialogue
Use to connect experiences and ideas across tables with equal stationary participation and a tightly bounded route for sensitive information.
- People
- 12–48
- Base procedure time
- 90 minutes
- Recording
- Shared record
Purpose: Explore through dialogue; Generate ideas.
English guide
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How this method works
Rotate one question among several small tables to connect experiences and ideas. Before starting, display the safety lead and backup, same-day contact method and record-handover scope shown to the person; do not start if both designated people are absent. Provide movement, staying in place, dictation, drawing and passing as equal participation. Handle sensitive information only on one dedicated note per person, not on shared table sheets. The person chooses to take the note home or hand it in an envelope to one named responsible person. Immediately collect and shred paper mistakenly written on a shared surface. Only people choosing to move go to the next table; table hosts pass on anonymous ideas only. This description is a regional adaptation of material published by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Do not treat the dialogue’s outputs as formal decisions.
Phase schedule
Minutes are cumulative from the start of the base plan, not a live timer. Read scaling for any additional time. Phase controls do not advance automatically.
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- Check question, confidentiality and participation0–10 minutes from the start (10 minutes)
Action: Check. Participation: Tables of 4–6.
Shared record
- Discuss experiences and ideas at the first table10–30 minutes from the start (20 minutes)
Action: Discuss. Participation: Tables of 4–6.
Shared record
- Move to another table and connect ideas30–50 minutes from the start (20 minutes)
Action: Connect. Participation: Tables of 4–6.
Shared record
- Move again to deepen the question50–70 minutes from the start (20 minutes)
Action: Deepen. Participation: Tables of 4–6.
Shared record
- Gather only anonymous ideas together70–90 minutes from the start (20 minutes)
Action: Gather. Participation: Tables of 4–6.
Shared record
Facilitation steps
- For 10 minutes, check the question, participation options, safety lead and backup, same-day contacts, and record recipients and handover scope.
- For 20 minutes, discuss ideas at tables of 4–6. Do not put sensitive information on table sheets; use only one dedicated note per person.
- For 20 minutes, only people choosing to move go to another table. The remaining table host conveys only anonymous ideas from the previous round.
- For 20 minutes, move again or remain at a stationary table, and write connections and matters to check without personal information on the table sheet.
- For 20 minutes, each table returns 2 ideas. Each person chooses to take their dedicated note home or hand it in an envelope to one responsible person.
If something changes
If
Before starting, at least one person cannot choose a non-moving participation method, a recording method other than reading/writing, or passing.
Then
Do not begin rotation. Let the person choose a stationary table, dictation, drawing, an assistant or passing.
If
One sensitive-information item arises, or at least one sensitive item is written on a shared table sheet.
Then
Stop recording and rotation. Immediately collect and shred the shared table sheet. Separate sensitive information onto one dedicated note per person, then let the person take it home or hand it in an envelope to one responsible person.
If
Before starting, both the safety lead and backup are absent, contact is unavailable, or the record-handover scope cannot be explained.
Then
Do not start rotating dialogue involving personal experiences. Give the usual consultation route and a different general question.
Preparation
Materials
- Original shared-question cards: one per table
- Original table sheets that do not use source diagrams: one per table
- Broad-tip pens: 3 per table
- Move, stay, dictate, draw and pass cards: one set per person
- One shared notice showing safety lead, backup, same-day contacts, record-handover scope and consultation route
- Blank sensitive-information notes and opaque envelopes: one note and one envelope per person
Room and setup
- Display the question, confidentiality scope, movement order for three rounds, stationary participation, passing and record readers.
- Do not put sensitive information on shared table sheets. Display that each person uses only one dedicated note and chooses whether to take it home or hand it in an envelope to one named responsible person.
- Display the safety lead and backup, same-day contact method, record recipients and handover scope, and the procedure for collecting and shredding paper mistakenly written on a shared surface.
Adjust for people and time
For 12–18 people, use three tables of 4–6. For 19–48 people, distribute participants among tables of 4–6 differing by no more than one person, and run only three rounds. People who do not move remain at a stationary table, while hosts pass ideas between tables. Do not take individual cases or verbatim records outside the table. Return only 2 ideas and one matter to check per table to the whole group.
Safety and non-applicable situations
Confirm safety lead, backup, contacts and handover boundaries before starting. Offer equivalent stationary, dictated, drawn and pass choices. Use only one dedicated note per person for sensitive information, with personal custody or an envelope to one named recipient. Stop recording/rotation and shred shared sheets if sensitive information arises. Do not treat outputs as formal decisions or move individual cases/verbatim records between tables.
Manuscript's recorded references
These translate the original manuscript's source and rights claims. They remain separate from any current-page notice below; they do not establish new verification.
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology: Gender Equality World Cafe Practice Guide, PDF part 1 World Cafe basics
https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/ikusei/kyoudou/detail/1367502.htm
CC-BY-2.1-JP adaptation; changes made
- Conditions applying to CC-BY-2.1-JP
https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/1351168.htm
CC-BY-2.1-JP
Diagram, print, and video language
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Editorial provenance
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