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Ways to Facilitate Effective Discussions - Coggle Diagram
Ways to Facilitate Effective Discussions
Preparing for a discussion
Plan how you will conduct the discussion by setting a clear goal.
Reevaluate course participation and attendance policies to be certain that they are assessing with the right access.
Help students prepare for the discussion by suggesting key concepts and themes.
Establish ground rules for participation in a discussion like actively listen to their peers.
Clearly communicate how much time you have for questions or discussion, and what you are looking for from this time.
Ask students to state their name before they begin speaking. Use their name when responding to their question or point.
Keep background noise to a minimum.
Be ready to talk with sign interpreters.
Starting a discussion
Refer to questions you distributed.
Make a list of key points.
Use a partner activity.
Use a brainstorming activity.
Pose an opening question and give students a few minutes to record an answer.
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.
Give students low-stakes opportunities to think and discuss content.
Facilitate smaller activities before discussion.
Use online resources and content management systems to extend class discussions.
Use a "token system" to encourage discussion.
Positively reinforce student contributions.
Limit your own involvement.
Balance students' voices during the discussion.
Pose a controversial issue and organize an informal debate.
Guiding the discussion
Keep the discussion focused by having a clear agenda.
Repeat key point of all comments.
Take notes (will be useful for summarizing).
Be alert for signs that the discussion is deteriorating and try to prevent it from happening.
Avoid making remarks such as: “Slow down,” “Take a breath,” or “Relax.” at students that have trouble in communicating.
Remember that not all students are comfortable with extended direct eye contact.
Evaluating a discussion
Ask students to write a one-minute paper about what have changes their mind after the discussion.
Ask students to respond to specific questions about the discussion.
Conduct your own informal evaluation of the discussion by asking yourself about the process of the discussion.