9 Whys of Liberating Structures

Activity

Liberating Structures, Ongoing engagement

9 Whys of Liberating Structures

Michael Weinraub

This activity helps individuals and groups uncover deeper motivations by repeatedly asking “why.” It fosters reflective listening and meaningful dialogue, supporting students in clarifying their academic goals and educators in exploring teaching and strategic priorities. Simple and adaptable for any learning context.

Tech needed: Video conferencing, Breakout rooms

Asynchronous

Duration: < 5 mins

Student preparation: None

Educator preparation: None

ACTIVITY PURPOSE

To foster deep listening and reflective dialogue by helping individuals uncover the deeper motivations behind their actions or goals – simply by being asked “why” multiple times. This structure helps both students and educators explore what truly matters in their learning or work. As Liberating Structures puts it: “The shared discovery of purpose is always eye-opening and rewarding.”

USEFUL FOR

Uses with students

Supporting students in developing a sense of meaning behind their academic choices (e.g. choosing a major, project, or career path)
Fostering reflective practice to deepen learning and personal engagement
Encouraging active listening and dialogue in peer-to-peer reflection activities
Helping students articulate their motivations, values, or goals as part of personal development, portfolios, or advising sessions

Uses with educators (including librarians and educational developers)

Clarifying what really matters in teaching, research, or professional practice
Supporting reflective conversations in teaching enhancement or peer review contexts
Helping teams uncover shared values or motivations before curriculum design, assessment planning, or strategy development
Strengthening facilitation skills through deep listening and open questioning
Encouraging reflective exploration of purpose during course design, programme review, or team development sessions

PREPARATION

No materials are needed. Optionally, ask students to bring a short written statement or idea in response to a simple prompt, such as:

“What are you working toward in this course (or programme), and why does it matter to you?”
“What motivates you to study this subject or pursue this goal?”
“What issue or question do you care about most in your field?”

This ensures students arrive ready to reflect and makes the conversation more focused and productive.

For educators or staff:

Ask participants to bring a current task, project, or goal to reflect on (e.g. “I want to redesign my course,” or “I support student research skills”).

INSTRUCTIONS

Form pairs. One person begins by sharing something they’re doing or working on.
The other partner asks: “Why is that important to you?”
After each response, the same question is asked again – up to nine times.
Partners switch roles after about 5 minutes.

The aim is not to arrive at a perfect answer, but to explore what drives the speaker’s work or learning at a deeper level.

The video demo shows the pairs activity, going one way. Full instructions and rationale available at: Liberating Structures – 9 Whys

DURATION

10 minutes for pairs (5 minutes per person)
You can then go in fours, where each person shares the experience of their partner in the previous round.

ADAPTATIONS AND EXAMPLES

With students:

Use in first-year seminars to explore motivations for study
Include in reflective assessments or personal development planning
Support advising conversations or end-of-module reflections

With educators and academic teams:

Begin a course or assessment design session with 9 Whys to clarify purpose
Use in peer feedback or reflective practice groups
Integrate into team-building or strategic planning workshops

Time constraints? Try a “5 Whys” version.

Asynchronous option: Have participants respond to a chain of written “why” prompts on a shared document or discussion board.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

For online use breakout rooms to do this in pairs or small groups.

USEFUL RESOURCES

9 Whys on Liberating Structures website
Liberating Structures offer simple yet powerful ways to rethink how we teach, facilitate, and collaborate in higher education. By introducing small shifts in how we engage students, plan learning experiences, or work with colleagues, these approaches make it easier for everyone—not just experts—to lead, contribute, and innovate. With 33 adaptable techniques, Liberating Structures enable inclusive, participatory learning and development, whether in classrooms, workshops, curriculum design sessions, or library-based teaching. They can replace or enhance traditional methods like lectures, discussions, and brainstorming, creating space for all voices to shape the learning environment and drive meaningful change. Learn more What are Liberating Structures?.