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)
