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Facilitating Effective Discussions - Coggle Diagram
Facilitating Effective Discussions
Preparing for a discussion
Establish ground rules for participation in a discussion.
Clearly communicate how much time you have for questions or discussion, and what you are looking for from this time.
Help students prepare for the discussion.
Ask students to state their name before they begin speaking.
Remember that in the modern classroom, there are many ways to be "present" and to "participate."
Keep background noise to a minimum.
Plan how you will conduct the discussion.
Be ready and willing to work with sign interpreters or CART interpreters during question and discussion periods.
Starting a discussion
Use a partner activity.
Use a brainstorming activity.
Make a list of key points.
Pose an opening question and give students a few minutes to record an answer.
Refer to questions you distributed.
Divide students into small groups to discuss a specific question or issue.
Pose a controversial issue and organize an informal debate.
Encouraging student participation
Create an inclusive discussion environment.
Allow students to ask questions or share ideas in class anonymously, or without "speaking out"
Give students low-stakes opportunities to think and discuss content
Facilitate smaller discussions among students before you ask students to share with the entire class.
Facilitate smaller activities before discussion and questions start, so that students have time and space to compose their thoughts.
Use online resources and content management systems to extend class discussions.
Have students take turns writing down questions and answers on whiteboards or on large flipchart paper
Positively reinforce student contributions.
Use a "token system" to encourage discussion.
Limit your own involvement.
Balance students' voices during the discussion.
Guiding the discussion
Be alert for signs that the discussion is deteriorating.
If students are having trouble communicating, avoid making remarks such as: “Slow down,” “Take a breath,” or “Relax.”
Take notes.
Prevent the discussion from deteriorating into a heated argument.
Repeat the key point of all comments
Bring closure to the discussion.
Keep the discussion focused.
Remember that not all students are comfortable with extended direct eye contact.
Evaluating the discussion
Ask students to respond to specific questions about the discussion.
Conduct your own informal evaluation of the discussion.
Ask students to write a one-minute paper.