Facilitation Notes
Wagon Wheels Brainstorm
• To stimulate lots of generative thinking in a very short time
• To stimulate powerful thinking between people who might not know each other
• To create a “vivid image bank” of a new idea in action to inform the planning process
• To develop a sense of team with a common purpose
Set up:
• Four chairs back to back at hub of wheel and four chairs on outer circle facing the chairs at the hub
• Facilitator selects 4 ideas to explore
Directions:
• Have participants bring paper and pen and fill in the seats in the wheel(s)
• Ask them to take notes of both their ideas as well as their partner's
• The people on the outside of wheel will be moving one seat to the right at each rotation, people at hub remain in their seats
• Explain that they will be working on 1 topic with each partner or approximately 5 minutes i.e. they will work with 4 different partners during the activity
• For each topic have the participants reach a common understanding of what the topic means and then brainstorm what it would look like in action
• At the end of each rotation, ask each participant sitting on outside of wheel to rotate 1 seat to the right. After they settle down, give them the next topic and ask them to reach a common understanding before brainstorming.
Going Deeper:
• Have participants pick their favorite ideas for each topic and write them down on post-its. Make sure they label the top of each post it.
• Put large flip chart sheets with topic title on top around the room and have participants post their favorite ideas on the appropriate sheet.
• Create focus groups to further explore a specific topic and to plan how to put the powerful ideas into action.
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