Description

The barometer strategy gets a measure of learners’ opinions by asking them to stand on a line from 0 to 10 (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = unsure or conflicted, 10= strongly agree).

Advantages

• Learners tend to find this a non-intimidating way of sharing their opinions.
• It can be an excellent way of getting learners to talk. Once they stand on the line, ask them to explain why they stood where they did.

Disadvantages

• May be beneficial to prevent learners from taking a neutral “I don’t know” stance without sufficient defense of this position.

Implementation

1. Introduce a complicated or controversial issue through the medium of your choice.
2. Ask learners to stand on an imaginary line from 0 to 10, representing their opinion.
3. Place learners into three groups based on their position in the line: agree, unsure, and disagree. Have the three groups present their five best arguments to the class.