Guess the Dominoes
Why do this problem?
This task
encourages learners to ensure all members of the team participate,
share their reasoning, listen to each other's opinions and reflect
on the outcome. This is one of a series of problems designed to
develop learners' team working skills. Other tasks in the series
can be found by going to this article.
Possible approach
The task is designed to work with teams of four, taking it in
turns to be "The Ruler."
Using a fifth person as an observer means that feedback can be
very specific and works well either using another learner or an
adult.
The aim is for the team to discuss and agree before selecting
any domino to be tested by The Ruler. Does the domino obey the rule
on the chosen rule card?
Here are
the domino cards in colour (to double nine) and
here they are in
black and white.
Guideline cards for the
team
and Ruler and
Observer
can be used to focus the learners' attention on the main aims of
the task.
One of the roles of the Observer is to check discussion takes
place before a decision is made and that the Ruler only responds if
they feel everyone has contributed to the decision.
When teams have finished working on the task it is important that
they spend time discussing in groups, and then as a whole class,
how well they worked as a team. They can consider what they have
learned from the experience and what they would do differently next
time, particularly in terms of how to listen to each other and
ensure that all members of the team participate. Your own
observations, as well as those of observers, might inform the
discussions.
Key questions
- Was there a choice of domino to test that was particularly
useful? Why?
- Were there any ideas that proved really helpful?
- How well did you listen to others in your group?
- How did you ensure that everyone had a chance to
contribute?
Possible extension
Choose two rule cards and only put dominoes in the Box that
obey both rules. Learners may like to try one of the other 'Guess
the rule' tasks, which can be found by going to
this
article.
Possible support
You may wish to give a copy of all, or a selection, of the
rule cards to the team as well as the Ruler so they have a list of
possible rules. You may also wish to reduce the number of dominoes
rather than using the full set of double blank to double
nine.
Other team-building tasks can be found by going to this
article.