Has a professor assigned you to lead a discussion during class? Here’s help for creating and fostering a good class discussion.
PLANNING A DISCUSSION
- Create a list of key concepts and themes. You can use these to formulate questions and find connections within the content.
- Create two lists of questions, one that you keep to yourself for asking questions to start the discussion (and move it along if there are lulls), and another list that you give to classmates to inspire their thinking. This will help keep the conversation flowing.
- Feel free to plan a few minutes to ask your classmates to create their own questions. They may have noticed different aspects of the topic/assigned reading than you did.
- Know your goal for the discussion. Are you hoping to inspire an in-class debate? Do you want to create a mind-map of interrelated ideas? Do you want a range of points of view represented? Or do you have another goal?
- Help your classmates by listing key points on the board, which will clue them in about what you plan to discuss. It also helps you know which topics still need to be covered.
- Bring a list of questions you can ask so that you can move the discussion along at the start (and if there is a lull). Remember, “why” and “how” questions generate discussion better than yes/no questions.
- Follow up interesting statements with supplemental questions. But make sure to address those questions to the whole class (not only the person who made the statement).
- Don’t be afraid to let there be silence! People often need a few moments to formulate responses, so let those silences unfold.