Leading Group Discussions

Getting Started Learn Names Get to know each other Icebreaker

Roles Not two-way, multi-way discussions -- Encourage participants to speak to each other – not to you Everyone gets to speak (Peter, what are your thoughts on this topic?) No one gets to dominate (Rachel, let’s get a few more to participate first, OK?)

Acceptance No Personal attacks Listen to other’s points of view, maybe restate opposing points of view to get buy-in

Write before you talk Ask a question Set up the parameters of the discussion and ask participants to identify a few questions they think it would be important to discuss Now ask participants to either jot down their thoughts or write down the questions they want discussed. Give them roughly five minutes. Now start the discussion, or address the questions they have raised as a whole group.

Think-Pair-Share Consider a prompt or question, formulate thoughts Pair up with another and discuss, jot down a few shared ideas Share your small group thoughts verbally with the whole group This technique gets everyone involved in some way

Muddiest Point What things need to be clarified or explained more fully before we discuss/ debate this topic?

Minute Paper Describe in one or two sentences what things might contribute to better understanding of this topic.

Consider Level of Questioning Blooms Taxonomy Remember Understand Apply Analyze Evaluate Create

Role Playing (Socratic Circle) Two students take opposing positions on the topic, discussing in the center of the group The rest of the group observes, taking notes on what is said, or key things not said. The group reforms and discusses, the role-playing forming a warm-up to the discussion

Send a Problem 2-3 student groups working on a solution to a sub-problem in your prompt. After several minutes (5-10?) the problem is passed on and the group gets another problem to work on. After a period of time, work ceases and solutions are compared.

Debate around the room Before the class, prepare the room by putting up notices in three corners of the room: ‘Agree’, ‘Disagree’ and ‘Don’t Know’ in response to a provocative comment Ask participants to consider the assertion for a short period, jotting down a few key points. Without discussing it with each other, go and stand in  the appropriate corner of the room, under one of the notices. Tell them to present their arguments to each other, trying to argue other students out of their corner.

Envoys Small group discussion feedback can often be dull or repetitive. When the small groups have come to some decisions, ask each group to send an ‘envoy’ to another group, to find out what their views/decisions were. The envoy should be prepared to go back to their own group with fresh ideas to see whether they want to stick by their original thinking, or temper it in the light of the ideas of another group.

Any Questions/ Comments?