Four Corners (FC)

Description

Four Corners is a cooperative learning strategy designed to allow students to elicit diverse points of view and communicate them effectively to others. This exercise celebrates diversity by endeavouring to understand and appreciate differences. It also encourages students to learn and to share that learning with others. It is designed to optimise the learning of the assigned task.

Procedure

1. Announce the categories of each corner, using visual stimulation if possible. Any category that allows for individual differences can be the focus of the corner e.g. Vietnam – Australian Soldier, US Commander, Vietnamese peasant/landowner, Journalist.

2. Give students time to think and clarify their preference.

3. Next students go to the corners, pair up and share their reasons for making their choice. They discuss various solutions, perspectives and points of view concerning a pre-selected issue. Students use active listening to paraphrase what the student has said to them, “From what I heard, you chose this role because….”

4. Finally, student pairs link up with a pair from a different group and listen and share the reasons for their choices once more.

Link to Outcomes

Students value and implement practices that promote personal growth and well being.

Dynamic Strategies

Thinking/Clarification

Thinking Skills

Elicit diverse points of view

Develops communication skills such as active listening and paraphrasing

Four Corners (FC)

Viewpoint 1

Viewpoint 2

Viewpoint 3

Viewpoint 4