World Café method

The World Café method is “a simple, effective, and flexible format for hosting large group dialogue.”

In a World Café, participants rotate among tables at which the host remains and build on the ideas of previous visitors to the table. Each table typically asks a different question, related to those at other tables, and hosts provide brief overviews of what was learned in a report-back session with all participants. This process is akin to member-checking and allows for corrections of the hosts’ interpretations.

I have employed this method on several occasions, most notably at the Taking Care of Chronic Disease Workshop and our Learning from the Lived Experiences of Older Immigrants stakeholder forums. Check out our latest publication on the method!