Facilitating a Discussion Group

TA Workshop Winter 2008

Ground Rules

• Interrupt me at any time

• Please ask questions

• I don’t have all the answers

• My purpose is to share with you techniques and best practices and make you aware of resources

Today’s Topics

• Encouraging Student engagement

• Guiding and evaluating discussion

• Common missteps

Personal Brainstorming

Take a few moments to consider these questions before we share as a group:

• What facilitation techniques have you seen used in discussion groups?

• What facilitation techniques have you been using in your discussion groups?

Preparation

• How do you prepare for your discussion group?

• Preparation– Plan, prepare your students, ground rules,

issues surrounding prep time

• Start the discussion– Refer to questions, list of key points, use a

partner activity, opening questions, think-pair-share, informal debate

Encouraging Student Engagement

Small Group Work Exercise:

In groups of 3-4, discuss your best practices for encouraging students engagement

Guiding and Engaging

Required: volunteer to lead the discussion

Question for group: How do you help guide the discussion?

-Keep it going

-Keep it on track

Encourage Student Engagement

• Create an inclusive environment

• Positively reinforce contributions

• Use a ‘token system’

• Introduce diverse activities– Games– Matrices– Worksheets– Group work

Guide the Discussion

• Keep the discussion focused

• Take notes – summarize at end

• Be alert for discussion breakdown

• Prevent heated or personal arguments

• Bring closure to the discussion

Evaluate the discussion

• What’s the point of evaluation?

• One minute paper

• Verbal / written feedback– Clearest / Muddiest Point

• Conduct informal evaluation – Quiz at beginning of next discussion

*Top Tips* 4 Common Missteps

• Your contributions?

• Don’t lecture

• Avoid vague questions

• Don’t play favourites

• Don’t answer your own question

Most of all…

• There are no hard and fast rules to discussion

• Aim for discussions that are:– Prepared– Open– Interesting– Secure– Educational– And have fun!

EDC: Your Additional Resource

• Questions? Feel free to contact me

Joe = joe_lipsett@carleton.ca

520 - 2600 ext 8560

• Visit EDC’s website for workshops & TA information: www.carleton.ca/edc

• Join our facebook group: Carleton TA Support