![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2018\/06\/discussion-image.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1\")
<\/h2>\n<\/h2>\n\u2022 Carefully consider your objectives for a discussion. Do you want students to apply newly learned skills, mull over new subject matter, learn to analyze arguments critically, practice synthesizing conflicting views, or relate material to their own lives? These goals are not mutually exclusive, but they require different types of direction.
\n\u2022 Use discussion to help students link concepts to their own lives; to encourage students to evaluate material critically; and to address topics that are open-ended, have no clear resolution, and\/or can be effectively addressed through multiple approaches.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Share your planning decisions with your students. Let them know what your focus is, and why it is important; also invite students to contribute suggestions for discussion topics and formats.
\n\u2022 Make sure the assigned material is discussed in class; if the students don\u2019t come prepared with questions and responses, do not let the discussion wander. Bringing in specific quotes, problems, or other samples of the assigned material can ensure that even under-prepared students will have something to talk about.
\n\u2022 Consider asking students to email or post to a discussion board their thoughts. This will also give you insight into the students\u2019 thoughts while you plan the discussion.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Use open-ended questions and ask students for clarification, examples, and definitions.
\n\u2022 Summarize student responses without taking a stand one way or another.
\n\u2022 Invite students to address one another and not always \u201cgo through\u201d you.
\n\u2022 Pause to give students time to reflect on your summaries or others\u2019 comments.
\n\u2022 Consider taking notes of main points on a whiteboard or document camera.
\n\u2022 Toward the end of the discussion, review the main ideas, the thread of the discussion, and conclusions.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Arrange the room to maximize student- to-student eye contact; e.g., chairs around a table or in a circle.
\n\u2022 When students ask questions, realize you (the instructor) do not have to provide the answer.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Notice who did and who did not participate.
\n\u2022 Check the tone of the discussion\u2014was it stimulating and respectful?
\n\u2022 Ask students about their reactions to the discussion session.<\/p>\n
For more information on this topic, please contact the Coulter Faculty Commons Educational Development Team at 227-7196.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BE PREPARED \u2022 Carefully consider your objectives for a discussion. Do you want students to apply newly learned skills, mull over new subject matter, learn to analyze arguments critically, practice […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1483,"featured_media":1896,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[57,698,111,699],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-discussions","category-eddev","category-feedback"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2018\/06\/discussion-image.jpg?fit=400%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":18896,"url":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/blog\/2021\/04\/05\/discussions-in-canvas\/","url_meta":{"origin":1893,"position":0},"title":"Discussions in Canvas","author":"","date":"April 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The Canvas\u2019\u00a0Discussions\u00a0Feature\u00a0- How does it Fare?\u00a0 Of all Blackboard tools, the Blackboard\u00a0Discussion Board\u00a0may be the most utilized by instructors and students. Many faculty\u00a0rely on the discussion board as a central aspect of their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/blog\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Canvas logo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2020\/09\/Canvas-no-text-feature-image.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4524,"url":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/blog\/2018\/08\/29\/secret-reading-weapon-your-textbooks-toc\/","url_meta":{"origin":1893,"position":1},"title":"Secret Reading Weapon: Your Textbook\u2019s TOC","author":"Terry Pollard","date":"August 29, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"When asking students to read for homework, do we ask them to simply \u201cread the chapter\u201d? 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Seeking an idea for an online discussion? What about a guide for setting norms\/expectations related to discussion practices? We have identified some resources to help you think through these questions. \u00a0 Tips for the new teacher Are you unsure of the role\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Active Learning"","block_context":{"text":"Active Learning","link":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/blog\/category\/active-learning\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"group of college students gathered about a table talking to each other","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2021\/10\/Facilitating-Classroom-Discussion-1024x683-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2021\/10\/Facilitating-Classroom-Discussion-1024x683-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2021\/10\/Facilitating-Classroom-Discussion-1024x683-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2021\/10\/Facilitating-Classroom-Discussion-1024x683-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1905,"url":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/blog\/2017\/05\/24\/designing-effective-discussion-questions\/","url_meta":{"origin":1893,"position":4},"title":"Designing Effective Discussion Questions","author":"Jonathan Wade","date":"May 24, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS OVERVIEW A good question is both answerable and challenging. It will inspire analysis, synthesis, interpretation, and critical thinking. Below are several types of questions and suggestions about when to use which kind. WHERE TO BEGIN? Begin with material students are familiar with or feel comfortable with. 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