Four Corners

1. Participants are given 4 or more choices concerning a particular topic or idea.
2. Participants then go to the section of the room where others that selected that choice are told to gather. Works well to have the choice on a sign that is taped in that corner or area of the room.
3. Participants form pairs in the group and discuss why they selected a particular choice, or respond to other focus questions from the instructor.
4. Instructor randomly selects participants to share their responses or the key points that came up in their pair.

One advantage of this strategy is that it can be used to reinforce course content, to clarify participant values, and to develop an understanding of differences in values and opinions. 

The four corners strategy is used to ensure that all participants participate in group activities. It helps to develop listening, verbal communication, critical thinking, and decision-making skills in the classroom context. 

Not only does it encourage participants to participate in activities by making decisions, it encourages participants to cognitively justify their decisions. 

You can also use this to form teams—heterogeneous teams by selecting one individual from each corner to make a 4-member team, or homogeneous teams by selecting individuals in one corner to make a team.  
 

Adapted from these sources: 

http://www.successlink.org/colearn/struct.asp 

University of Illinois at  Urbana-Champaign. Center for Teaching Excellence: http://www.oir.uiuc.edu/Did/Resources/Illini%20Instructor/collaborative.htm 

Muskingum Area Technical College (Zanesville, Ohio) http://www.muskingum.edu/~cal/database/general/group.html#Corners