In CL, everyone needs to take an active role in group discussions. Talking Chips can be used in any group discussion during a lesson. Talking Chips promotes the CL principles of individual accountability (i.e., everyone does their fair share) and equal opportunity to participate (i.e., everyone has several chances to participate in the group work). In this way, everyone learns, and everyone helps everyone else learn. With increased output from all group members, discussions are livelier and deeper.

Step 1: All group members begin with three chips. Chips can be made of small pieces of cardboard or anything readily accessible.

Step 2: As the group performs a talk-based task or discusses a topic, group members surrender a chip each time they talk. The group can ask a member to volunteer for the role of Chip Master, who will monitor the chips.

Step 3: Once a member has surrendered all of their chips, they cannot speak until the next round except to ask questions to those who have chips remaining.

Step 4: When no one has any chips remaining, everyone once again receives three chips, and the process restarts. 

Step 5: After the group has finished their task or discussion, they can discuss what they learned using Talking Chips. Usually, some group members quickly use up all of their chips, while others are slower to use their chips.

The number of chips given at the beginning of each round can vary. The fewer the chips, the sooner some students surrender all their chips and have to stop talking—except to question group members.