FACILITATING DYNAMIC classroom DISCUSSIONS Session goals: #1: Student Success: pledge every student continues towards their educational goal. #4: Workforce: students are placed into and succeed in high-demand, high-wage jobs. FACILITATING DYNAMIC classroom DISCUSSIONS Dr. Robin Chaddock Maureen Keller

How do small group discussions benefit our students? Even in the most “technical” classes, instructors who sprinkle in dynamic small group discussions can help their students to: Get hired and keep their jobs by enhancing connections Stay engaged in their education, resulting in retention

Why New Employees lose their Jobs

FACILITATING discussions Whole Group vs. Small Group Even though we can’t see the students, what do you picture the students to look like? What are they doing and/or what are their non-verbal behaviors? What has happened when you personally have asked the whole classroom a single question like this? Watch 1:17-3:15

FACILITATING discussions Whole Group vs. Small Group When the teacher “releases” the students to start discussing in small groups, what do you picture the classroom looking like? What are they doing and/or what are their non-verbal behaviors? What is one “large-group discussion question” that you could turn into this type of “small-group discussion”? Watch 3:15-4:48

This can happen with whole-class discussions! Sound Familiar? This can happen with whole-class discussions!

Structuring your class period like a library shelf (50 Minutes) Smith, K. A. “Cooperative Learning: Making ‘Groupwork’ Work.” In C. Bonwell and T. Sutherlund (eds.), Active Learning: Lessons from Practice and Emerging Issues. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, no. 67. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1996.

Easy ways to get started Think-Pair-Share: Groups of 1-3-6 Time-saver: Small groups can save time! Even small classes can be split in half. Discussion-starting Methods: “The Dreaded Discussion”

Discussion-starting options from “The dreaded discussion” #5 Breaking into Small Groups Clear, task-oriented instructions Various ways to form small groups Vary the reporting methods

Converting Large-Group to Small-Group discussions What is one “large-group discussion question” from your own classes (or discipline) that you could convert into a “small-group discussion”? Thank you for coming to our session! - Robin and Maureen Do on posters by discipline around room or back in original small groups and record it there.