Class Discussion
Whether class enrollments are large or small, teachers often have trouble
facilitating productive discussion sessions. Large classes may make it difficult
to call on individual students, or if discussion does get going, teachers
often have trouble channeling that engagement down productive avenues, which
can eventually convince the students that discussion time is just "free
time." Small classes, on the other hand, can seem rather intimidating
to students and teachers alike because less extroverted students can't "hide" from
questions and teachers can begin to feel that they're calling only on one
or two students. Although teachers must often rely on their intuitive sense
of how their students are responding to these techniques, several of the
suggestions have built-in methods of assessment so that teachers can receive
structured feedback on what students think about how productive these techniques
are.
Facilitating Class Discussion:
Asking Questions, Encouraging Response
- Encouraging Student
Participation in Small Classes (Power Point) (Rachelle Thibodeau,
Carleton)
- Thibodeau cites Andrews' findings on improving class discussions: "high
level, divergent, structured, and straightforward questions elicit two
to three times more responses" from students.
- Generating Discussions on Readings
or Other Class Materials (Kathleen McKinney, Sociology)
- Sixteen quick tips for encouraging and promoting class discussion, including "ticket
in" activities, student-generated discussion questions, "pass
the folder," and other tried-and-true techniques.
- Suggestions for Classroom Discussion (Sandra
Metts, Communication)
- Several techniques for facilitating class discussion, including offering
different sorts of questions, allowing "wait time" (and not answering
your own questions), and paying attention to nonverbal cues from both the
student and teacher.
Facilitating Class
Discussion: Icebreakers/Group-Building Activities
- Stages of Group
Development (Susquehanna U)
- This site includes Icebreakers as part of the process of group development.
Also on the site are ideas on general group dynamics and development.
- Top Ten Icebreakers
for Meetings and Training Seminars (Janice LaVore)
Other Resources
- Bibliography on Leading Discussions
- FAQ about Discussion (J.
Middendorf & A. Kalish)
- Handbook
for Instructors on the Use of Electronic Class Discussion (OSU)
