Discussing Progres

Classroom discussion is a time-honored way to learn. It is also an evidence-based way to help students retain information, pay attention, and gain real insight. However, if you’re a discussion leader, you may be nervous. Preparing for, opening, and continuing a great discussion is a skill you can learn. These steps advise you on every aspect of leading a good discussion, from keeping everyone engaged, to managing strong personalities, to wrapping up the discussion. So if you find yourself needing to lead a class in college or high school, or if you are simply interested in alternative ways of learning, practice these skills and make them your own. Soon you will be on your way to leading engaging and thought-provoking discussions where everyone learns -- including yourself!

·        Ask a question that inspires a productive conversation. The best questions are neither too open-ended nor too limited. "Yes or No" questions halt discussion, while overly broad questions (such as "What do you think about Romeo and Juliet?") questions also tend to discourage discussion. The best questions are balanced; they are open enough that there seem to be a few good answers, yet closed enough that people know how to approach them, and feel motivated to start talking.

·        Be prepared. As the discussion leader, you should come into the meeting with several "big" questions. Be prepared to ask the next one when discussion dies down, when people need more food for thought. The more prepared you feel when you walk into a classroom, the more confident you’ll look. If you look confident in your ideas and your approach, students will be more likely to respect you and to cooperate.

·        Provide clear guidelines for participation. Everyone knows how to have a conversation; but a thoughtful discussion is more intentional and more focused than just a chat. If you want to start the conversation off on the right foot, then let the students know exactly what your expectations are. Should students raise their hand before speaking? Or should they speak freely without raising their hands? Should they use "Mr." and "Ms." when addressing their fellow students? These details clarify expectations and hence increase student confidence. You might also coach students on how to avoid personal biases in their responses, or any terms to use or avoid, and what to do if the discussion gets heated

·        Provide a shared frame of reference, such as a book, video, or other media. It’s important for you and the students to have something you can all talk about before you begin the discussion. This can be almost anything: the assigned reading for that day’s class, a news story or poem, a work of art, or even a natural object like a sunset. The important thing is that you and the students share a common object of study so the discussion can be concrete instead of wallowing in abstractions

·        Maintain enthusiasm for the topic. One way to make sure that the discussion goes well is to show your enthusiasm for the subject right from the beginning. If you have engaged body language, are alert and energetic, and show how the topic is important to your life and the lives of the students, they’ll be much more likely to be engaged. If they think that you’re tired, apathetic, or just trying to get the discussion over with, then they’ll be less likely to care

·        Define key terms. One helpful way to begin the discussion is to define any key terms that may be useful to your students throughout the discussion. For example, if you’re giving a lesson on poetry, you can discuss simile, metaphor, allusion, or any other literary devices that are central to the poem. If all of your students feel like they’re on the same page and have a strong foundation before they begin the discussion, then they’ll be much more confident about participating.

·        Present yourself well. In order to lead a meaningful discussion, you should strike a balance between confidence about what you know and a willingness to learn more. A discussion is an adventure -- you may not know exactly where it will go, but you can lead the way. If you are willing to be vulnerable in showing that you don't know everything, students will be more likely to be vulnerable too.