Leading Effective Discussions Dealing with Roadblocks.pptVIP

Leading Effective Discussions: Dealing with Roadblocks Valerie Jones Stanford Psychology TA Workshop Fall 2008 Leading Effective Discussions: Dealing with Roadblocks “…we want to avoid class discussions that amount to nothing more than a perversion of the Socratic method, that amount to nothing more than a series of closed, two-person exchanges in which the teacher asks a question and an individual student answers the teacher, exchanges which lock the other students into the role of passive observers. We want as many students as possible to be as attentive and involved and engaged as possible; we want them to be agents in their own educations.” - Jennifer Barton, Paul Heilker, and David Rutkowski (Virginia Tech, English Department) Leading Effective Discussions: Dealing with Roadblocks Basic Rules for Leading Discussions Roadblock 1: Silence Roadblock 2: Student Confusion Roadblock 3: Inappropriate Questions Roadblock 4: Controversial Topics Roadblock 5: Distracting Behaviors Roadblock 6: The “Know-It-All” Roadblock 7: Ending the Discussion Basic Rules for Leading Discussions Be excited Be prepared Set clear expectations Learn names Icebreakers Warm-ups Informally chat before/after lectures discussion sections Share your agenda (briefly) at the start of each class Review course topics for the week Encourage participation…? Roadblock 1: Silence Establish ground rule that everyone should participate It’s important to hear everyone’s ideas and opinions Review week’s topics Require reaction papers Have students email questions or things of interest before class Assign discussion leaders for each class beforehand Roadblock 1: Silence Is it an issue of clarity? Mini review of the week’s topics Ask an easier question first; rephrase question Provide clear examples (prepared beforehand if possible) Call on individual students Use strategic eye contact to encourage participation Break students into discussion groups (2-3 people) Roadblock 1: Silence Shy students