PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988–2001
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
13
Tips for trainers
Alan Margolis
• 45. The Margolis wheel • Problem/difficulties likely to be faced
when returning to your own
Objectives institution.
Figure 39
• To give individuals the opportunity to
discuss real problems they face or will
face and to generate potential solutions;
• To emphasise equality in power and
authority with the group;
• To encourage participants to share
problems and actively seek experiences
and suggestions from each other; and,
• To highlight that we all have relevant and
valuable experiences.
Materials 2. Then ask participants to sit in any seat.
Instruct then that those sitting in the
Five or six chairs arranged in reach of two outside circle will be the consultants or
concentric circles, the inside ones facing the solution suggesters. Those sitting on the
outside. inside facing out will be the clients or
problem-presenters. Explain that each pair
A watch or electronic timer to time each has three minutes to discuss problems and
round. Object to make a noise, e.g. cup and potential solutions.
spoon, bell. 3. After 3 minutes, the outside circle rotates
by one chair, brining a new consultant to
Time face each client.
4. Give another 3 minutes for discussion.
45 minutes. This continues for all 5 or 6 people in the
circles.
Procedure
5. Then give 2 minutes for all clients and
1. Ask participants to reflect on particular consultants to write down a summary of
problems they will face or have faced. problems and solutions.
This can be focused to the session you 6. After this is complete the clients and
have just been conducting and could be: consultants change circles and reverse
roles. The exercise is repeated. If there are
• Problems in training for participatory more than 10-12 participants (i.e. more
inquiry; and, than one set of circles, then arrange for the
• Problems in carrying out a consultants to switch circles after the first
participatory inquiry; round so that a new source of potential
solutions can be brought to each circle).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1
Source: RRA Notes (1993), Issue 17, pp.67–68, IIED London
PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988–2001
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Comments
Inform participants that they may discuss
private as well as public problems. No one but
the consultants will get to hear of them, as
there is no presentation after the exercise.
However, this exercise is best used when there
has been prior discussion of problems and
constraints. For example, participants may
have been with colleagues from the same
institution, programme or department
discussing what should happen after the
workshop. Break the discussion by using the
Margolis Wheel, as this will permit
participants to discuss private as well as public
problems.
This exercise almost always generates highly
animated discussion. It is important that
individuals do write down a summary of the
problems and potential solutions. These can
then be used in a follow up discussion, such as
in the elaboration of detailed implementation
or action plans.
An extra learning point can be made if
participants are asked to choose one problem
to present to each consultant. During the
debriefing you can discuss how the problem
presented initially changed as the client
became more aware of the real issues after
each consultation.
• Alan Margolis, Hampstead Training.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2
Source: RRA Notes (1993), Issue 17, pp.67–68, IIED London
