how to manage an discussion based writing course

Ask students to come to the discussion with 3 or 4 questions prepared. Start the discussion by having students pair off and alternate asking and answering their questions. Use a brainstorming activity. Ask students to contribute ideas related to the discussion topic (no matter how bizarre or farfetched) and write all ideas on the board.

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What is the best way to conduct a discussion?

Although the ideal discussion is spontaneous and unpredictable, you will want to do some careful planning. You should have a clear goal/objective for the discussion, a plan for how you will prepare the students, and a general idea about how you will guide the discussion (e.g., with activities, videos, questions, etc).

What is a discussion-based course design?

A discussion-based course design is no different. The objectives, resources, activities, and assessments must all align with the intent for learners to develop and demonstrate proficiency through discussion.

How do you write a good academic discussion post?

Write a logical, well-organized, thought-through post. Use the required in-text citation format and provide properly formatted citations to scholarly sources. Avoid language that is not appropriate for an academic setting. Avoid overly informal language. Discussion posts are not Twitter, SnapChat or Instagram posts.

What should be included in a discussion plan?

You should have a clear goal/objective for the discussion, a plan for how you will prepare the students, and a general idea about how you will guide the discussion (e.g., with activities, videos, questions, etc). Remember that in the modern classroom, there are many ways to be "present" and to "participate."

How do you manage a discussion class?

Summarise ideas being discussed from time to time and emphasise key points. Clarify students' ideas and ask for comments on them. Try to prevent the discussion from becoming heated (refer to class/group rules). Keep the students on topic.

How do you start a discussion based class?

Starting a discussionRefer 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.More items...

How do you prepare for a discussion class?

Tips for Participating in Class DiscussionsRead the assignment. Class discussions are usually about a particular topic, and there are usually assigned readings. The first step is to read carefully the assigned material.Make notes for discussion. Make notes on points about which you agree or disagree.

How do you facilitate a guided discussion?

How to Facilitate DiscussionsUnderstand the role of the facilitator. Stay neutral. ... Provide structure to the discussion. ... Guide the discussion. ... Record the discussion in a visible way. ... Ensure productive group behaviors. ... Summarize the results.

What are 4 types of discussion?

They deliberate, dialogue, declare, or debate.

What are discussion strategies?

Discussion methods are a variety of forums for open-ended, collaborative exchange of ideas among a teacher and students or among students for the purpose of furthering students thinking, learning, problem solving, understanding, or literary appreciation.

How should we behave during a class discussion?

1 Stay focused. Stay focused. ... 2 Come to class well-prepared. Come to class well-prepared. ... 3 Remain during class. Remain quiet during class unless your teacher gives you permission to talk. ... 4 Shut off your cell phone during class. ... 5 Stay in your seat during class. ... 6 Show your teacher respect.

What are the responsibilities of participants in a discussion?

They provide precise data and facts and support their statement with statistics. They provide all the data in a logical manner and make their point stronger with facts. But it is also true that with only data you cannot win a discussion.

How do you lead a discussion paper?

Summarise the author's conclusions. Say whether or not you find the paper convincing. If the audience has not chipped in by now, highlight points that your audience might want to discuss, or ask them questions about what they thought about particular aspects of the paper.

What makes a discussion successful?

Effective listeners don't just hear what is being said, they think about it and actively process it. Be an active listener and don't let your attention drift. Stay attentive and focus on what is being said. Identify the main ideas being discussed.

How can I be a good facilitator?

A good facilitator will:Develop a detailed agenda after discussion with organization leaders. ... Use participants' names. ... Call on people in the order in which they raise their hands. ... Make eye contact. ... Use the ground rules (mutually agreed upon meeting rules for participation) early on.More items...•

What is the structure of guided discussion method?

Logical Sequence. As with a lecture, a guided discussion should have an introduction, the experience development, and a conclusion. In the guided discussion, it is important that the introduction catches the attention of the student providing motivation to discuss and engage in the topic.

What is discussion based teaching?

Discussion-based teaching is an instructional approach that prioritizes learner acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attitudes through discourse rather than passive approaches that focus on lecture, reading, or viewing. Designing for discussion-based teaching means thinking beyond the question prompts themselves, ...

Is facilitation part of course design?

But the point here is that the act of facilitation is not part of the course design; what is part of the course design, though, is a facilitation guide. Designing a facilitation guide is a topic of its own. Another element that influences discussion is infrastructure – the nuts and bolts and bits and bytes of the digital or physical classroom.

What is discussion forum?

A fundamental component of online courses, discussion forums give students the opportunity to engage in scholarly discourse. There’s a common myth about online learning. It’s that online students are isolated and can remain anonymous – and that online learning lacks the lively, scholarly debate that takes place in a traditional on-ground classroom.

Why is it important to have discussion posts?

Because discussion posts are graded and contribute to a student’s success in the course, it’s important for online students to learn how to develop strong posts that add to a meaningful learning experience. “The advantage of an online discussion forum over a classroom discussion is that you have the time to carefully craft your responses without ...

How many weekly questions are required for a discussion?

While specific requirements may vary depending on the course and the instructor, basic requirements generally include a weekly discussion question, or a choice of multiple weekly questions, to which students are required to make an initial post by mid-week. After that, students usually respond to at least one or two posts from others in ...

What is Discussion-Based Learning?

When we talk about ‘discussion-based learning’, we’re talking about taking a discussion-led approach, whether this is through physical or digital conversation, rather than a passive approach (such as lecturing, reading or watching) to teaching.

Introducing Discussions in Workshop

At Workshop we’ve introduced discussions as a way for you to talk to your peers and learn from one another. Our aim here is to create an environment where students want to contribute to not only help solidify what they’ve learnt, but also to help others out with tips or tricks that they might not have picked up through watching the videos alone.

Why is Discussion-Based Learning Important?

You may have seen the forgetting curve infographic that says that most people only recall 10% of information learned within just 72 hours in passive learning environments.

How to encourage non-participants to participate in a discussion?

A way to approach non-participants is to provide opportunities for smaller group discussions or pair-share discussions. Smaller groups may help put some students at ease. A second strategy is to ask opinion questions occasionally (e.g., “How do you feel about this?”). This may encourage participation by reducing participants’ fear of answering incorrectly. Another strategy is to have participants write out their answers to a question. Having the words written out may make it easier for a shy or fearful person to speak up.

Why is facilitation important in a discussion?

Effective facilitation of a discussion involves the recognition and employment of different perspectives and different skills to create an inclusive environment. In order to do so, it is important to consider the features of effective discussions, and conditions that promote small group interaction and engagement. Discussion is a powerful mechanism for active learning; a well-facilitated discussion allows the participant to explore new ideas while recognizing and valuing the contributions of others.

What can facilitators do to encourage participants to make unclear contributions?

The facilitator can encourage participants making unclear contributions to give examples and factual evidence of their points. The facilitator can also restate points for verification or rejection by the participants, or give enthusiastic nonverbal cues and patience.

What happens when conflict is left ambiguous?

In good discussions, conflicts will sometimes arise. If such conflicts are left ambiguous, they may cause continuing trouble. Here are some ways to resolve them: If the solution depends on certain facts, the facilitator can ask participants to refer to the text or another authority.

How to approach the dominant participant and pull in non-participants?

The participant who talks too much: A way to approach the dominant participant and pull in non-participants is to redirect the discussion to another person or another topic. Alternatively, you may wish to reframe their comments, making them viable additions to the discussion.

How to make a discussion more satisfying?

Discussions will be more satisfying for you and your students if they are prepared. Establish ground rules for participation in a discussion. In order for a discussion to be effective, students need to understand the value of actively listening to their peers, tolerating opposing viewpoints, and being open-minded.

What can you do with a list of questions?

You can distribute a list of questions for each discussion, ask students to bring in their own questions, suggest key concepts or themes for them to focus on, or ask them to collect evidence that clarifies or refutes a particular concept or problem.

How to encourage discussion in a text?

1. Choose texts that inspire debate. Stories that are driven by character actions and motivation are the ones that inspire discussion. Texts that inspire questions encourage students to return to the text and find support for their answers.

Why do students take time to reflect on the evidence brought up during discussion?

Taking time to reflect solidifies the importance of textual evidence and helps students incorporate the lessons learned.

Why is evidence important in classroom discussions?

It’s a challenging task. Using evidence in discussion strengthens students’ comprehension and confidence.

What to do when a student offers up a misunderstanding?

If a student offers up a misunderstanding or misinterpretation, prompt him or her to go back to the text, or offer it up to the group.

What is textual evidence?

Citing textual evidence is about more than rattling off quotes from the story. It involves selecting and interpreting just the right evidence, says John Riley, the Great Books Foundation’s director of professional learning. “Ultimately, textual evidence is what makes students’ answers credible.”. Classroom discussions are a perfect place ...