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To examine discussion skills

Aim

To examine discussion skills.

A reflective teacher may find it useful to consider some of the following questions:

Do the participants take turns or do they frequently talk over each other or interrupt?

Do they invite contributions, re-direct contributions for further comments, give encouragement?

Do they listen to each other?  Are they willing to learn from each other (i.e. respond and react to each other's contributions)?

Do they indulge in 'parallel' talk (i.e. continue their own line of thinking)?

Does conflict emerge or is harmony maintained?

Is conflict positively handled?

  • by modifying statements, rather than just reasserting them?
  • by examining assumptions, rather than leaving them implicit?
  • by explaining/accounting for claims?

Do participants elaborate their contributions?

  • by giving details of events, people, feelings?
  • by providing reasons, explanations, examples?

Do they extend ideas?

  • by asking for specific information?
  • by asking for clarification?

Do they explore suggestions?

  • by asking for alternatives?
  • by speculating, imagining and hypothesizing?

Do they evaluate?

  • by pooling ideas and suspending judgement before making choices?

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