A Round Table activity is a cooperative learning strategy that involves small groups of students working on a common task, sharing their ideas and perspectives, and giving and receiving feedback. This engaging activity promotes active participation, collaboration, and critical thinking among students.

Materials:

• Tables or desks arranged in a circle
• Chairs for each student
• Worksheets or handouts (if applicable)
• Markers or pens (if applicable)

Procedure:

1. Set up the Round Table (5 minutes):
   • Arrange tables or desks in a circle to create an inclusive and engaging environment for discussion.
2. Grouping (5 minutes):
   • Assign 3-5 students to each group. 
   • Ensure that groups are heterogeneous in terms of learning styles, backgrounds, and abilities.
3. Introduction (10 minutes):
   • Clearly explain the topic or task that students will be working on. 
   • Provide any necessary background information or instructions.
4. Discussion (40 minutes):
   • Encourage students to share their ideas, perspectives, and solutions. 
   • Guide the discussion by asking open-ended questions and prompting students to elaborate on their thoughts.
   • Encourage students to listen attentively to their peers’ contributions and respond respectfully.
   • Help students work together effectively by providing guidance and support. Encourage them to share resources, build upon each other’s ideas, and reach consensus.
5. Provide Feedback (10 minutes):
   • Offer constructive feedback to individual students and the group as a whole. 
   • Encourage self-reflection and help students identify areas for improvement.

Differentiation:

• Group Size: Vary group sizes based on student needs. Smaller groups might benefit from more focused discussion, while larger groups offer diverse perspectives.
• Roles: Assign specific roles within each group, like facilitator, notetaker, reporter, and timekeeper, to distribute responsibilities and encourage participation.
• Pre-Knowledge Scaffolding: Provide differentiated pre-reading materials, graphic organizers, or vocabulary lists to support students with varying knowledge levels.
• Question Depth: Use tiered questions throughout the discussion with varying levels of complexity to cater to different critical thinking abilities.

Technology Integration: 

• Online Discussion Platforms: Create digital forums or chat rooms for asynchronous discussions and allow students to participate at their own pace.
• Interactive Presentation Tools: Use web-based tools like Mentimeter or Poll Everywhere for real-time audience response systems, polls, and word clouds to gauge understanding and generate interactive discussions.
• Collaborative Documents: Employ shared online documents like Google Docs or Padlet for collaborative note-taking, brainstorming, and summarizing key points.