3 steps to follow

In this course we suggest to use the FISh model* in the collaborative work in the groups. Of course other methods can be used if the group agrees to. You will need to allocate some time for group discussion about how you understand the model and how you can use it. For each topic the model helps us go about three different steps:

Step 1: Focus

We start off each topic by focusing on the topic and the scenario:

What do we see? How do we understand what we see? Do we have different angles? Views?
What do we already know?
Previous experiences etc.
What do we need to find out more about? What do we not know? What are we curious about?
Specify a few questions for investigation.

You could use a table for this, an example:

What we see and what we know (based on our prior knowledge and by observing the content of the scenario)	What we don't know (What are the questions in our minds when we think about the scenrio?)	What we need to find out (What are the specific areas which we think are important to examine to help us solve our questions?)

From: O'Grady et al. Download Excel template Download Download Excel template

Step 2: Investigate:

Decide how we are going to find our answers.
Who will do what? When? Set dates?
Then: What main findings do we see?

Step 3: Share

In the group:

Share your learning progress and strategy of understanding (added from O'Grady et al)
Share and discuss answers/findings you have found interesting

Share with the HEDS community:

Discuss what you want to share with the other groups and how to present it
Choose a format/tool for presenting your work*
Share your presentation via Submit PBL group work in your PBL group community and also in the HEDS community space
Discuss how can you provide critical forward-moving feedback to the other groups
Read feedback from other groups on your presentation

*Format could be presentations, role plays, debates, posters, reports and other.

After the three steps: Reflect

After each topic and before starting another new topic is is good to reflect on your process:

How did you experience your group work? Feelings?
What went well?
What would you like to do differently in your work ahead?

Here you can use another table:

	Questions	Reflection results
Content	Did we achieve the intended learning outcomes?
Working method	Did we work according to the steps for the FISh model? Did we get stuck anywhere in the process?
Group dynamics	Looking back at the collaborative learning contract, did we follow what we decided? Should we adjust anything in the contract or in the way we are working together?
Metacognition	How did I/we learn? How does my/our prior knowledge affect the learning? How is my/our motivation?

Download Excel template Download Download Excel template

Document the FISh process

Decide a documenting method that works for your group. You can copy this text as a template and use in a separate document for each topic:

Topic: ……………..

Scenario: (paste scenario below)

Focus
- …………….
- …………….
Investigate
- …………….
- …………….
Share
- …………….
- …………….
Reflect

…………….
…………….

Download Word template

*These guidelines is based on the FISh model, and has been further delevoped with some items from: O'Grady, Yew, Goh, Schmidt. (2012) One-day, one-problem - An approach to Problem-based LearningLinks to an external site.

In brief, FISh is a model created for PBL group inquiry, a simplified version of the problem-solving model often used in Inquiry- and Problem-Based Learning. There is nothing fishy about it – it is really quite straightforward when you think about it as a model for how to
“solve” problems. The aim with FISh is to provide a model for online collaborative inquiry that mirrors a research process. It is a suggestion for how to work in your PBL group – try it a few times, modify to taste, and try something different if you do not like it.

Fish model

FISh model is used to help collaborative group work