Chat Stations

 

When I was researching Hexagonal Thinking, I came across a discussion protocol called "Chat Stations". This is a type of learning center but one with strict protocols for having students talk to each other about a topic.It enhances small group discussions.  In addition, this is a type of cooperative learning tool and it is one I'd never heard of before. 

Chat stations require very little prep but are designed to encourage conversation among students rather than just having them sit around a table and it encourages movement between discussions.

A chat station usually has a discussion prompt that goes with a photo, picture, or object associated with the concept or topic being taught. In math, the prompt might be asking them to analyze the problem to determine what possible equations of with the picture, talking about everything they know on a topic, deciding which answer is wrong and explaining why, list the sequence of steps needed to solve a problem but they don't have to actually solve it, which equation is needed from the reference card to solve the equation, etc.   Each group needs a piece of paper that is divided up so it has enough individual cells to match the number of stations. This is where students will record their thoughts and answers associated with the prompt for the station.  

As far as groups go, each group should have no more than between four and five students but the number depends on how many students are in the class and the number of stations available. In addition, each group should only be at a station for three to five minutes because any longer and the conversation will turn to something else.  You want them engaged so this short time is perfect. Once the time is up, have the students move to the next station, chat, and move one.  

When students have rotated through all the stations, it is time to call everyone back together to discuss their findings from each station.  When asking the groups, choose a different group to ask them for their results  for each station.  This group starts it off but you can call on all the groups to contribute.  The teacher writes down any insightful thoughts or comments from the students. In fact, these chat stations encourage whole class discussions because all the students have explored the topic in smaller less threatening situations.  

Often times, chat stations are used when students are starting a new concept or topic.  It is a way to trigger prior knowledge so they  have something to refer to. Chat stations can also be used as a lesson opener, a way to summarize the lesson, or as a way of integrating writing into the math classroom, and as a way to communicate mathematically. 

When students are at the chat stations, the teacher can go around, monitor the discussions, do a quick assessment to see what they do or don't understand, help if a group needs a bit of a nudge, while encouraging student independence.  So if you have never used chat stations before, give them a try, especially since they break up the normal day, let students move around, and have a chance to talk.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.