Provost-LeadingClassDiscussions-Handout

UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS http://www.unlv.edu/provost/idr/events-archive Leading Worthwhile Class Discussions What are the best ways to engage students in focused, time-efficient, worthwhile class discussions? How can we lead an informative discussion that engages UNLV students while promoting their academic success? We’ll use a case-discussion format to address these questions and to examine some common pitfalls of class discussions An analysis of our own discussion will add a metacognitive approach to our topic Strategies for worthwhile class discussions: • • • establish a cooperative group dynamic, based on shared guidelines (For example: emotions are valid and we treat them with respect.) develop clear group goals (For example: explicitly define the purpose of the discussion, the task [what to discuss and how], and the criteria for success.) invite students to join you in monitoring both the process and the content of the discussion (Remember that the more you intervene to guide the discussion, the less responsibility students will take for doing so.) Resources (hover over each resource for its URL): Brookfield, Stephen “Keeping Discussion Going through Questioning, Listening and Responding.” In Discussion as a Way of Teaching: Tools and Techniques for a Democratic Classroom San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 2005, chapter Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, Harvard University, Online Document “Some Different Types of Questioning.” Copyright © 2002-2007 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College Felder, Richard “Hang In There! Dealing with Student Resistance to Learner-Centered Teaching.” Chemical Engineering Education 43(2), 131-132 (Spring 2011), reprinted in Tomorrow’s Professor #1111 Martin, Ada “Making Online Classroom Discussion More Dynamic and Engaging.” Arizona State University Teachonline (January, 2014) Ritchhart, Ron “A Typology of Classroom Questions.” Culture of Thinking Project, 2009 Tannen, Deborah “The Power of Talk: Who Gets Heard and Why.” Harvard Business Review (1995) Warren, Lee “Managing Hot Moments in the Classroom.” Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, Harvard University, Online Document Copyright © 2002-2007 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College Weimer, Maryellen “How to Lead and Guide but Not Control and Direct.” In Improving Your Classroom Teaching Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1996, pp 56-58 Instructional Development & Research Mary-Ann Winkelmes, Director http://www.unlv.edu/provost/idr mary-ann.winkelmes@unlv.edu