Letting Go of the Lecture: Stimulating Critical Thinking Through Discussion

Cynthia Benn Tweedell, Ph.D.VP Quality Enhancement and

Institutional ResearchNOTE: Please be sure your

speakers are on!

The Challenge A few students dominate discussion Unprepared Silence Apathy Rude to one another Keeping on topic Productive discussion

Tips to Preparing Students for Discussion Start class with a short quiz on

reading Start class with a “5-minute write”

on a topic related to the reading Give out a “reading guide” with

possible discussion questions Have students generate discussion

questions

Tips to Get Discussion Started Brief, thought-provoking video Common experience, lab,

demonstration, activity Stir up controversy Problem or case study

Asking Good Questions Ask question, then have a minute of

silence before opening the discussion

Start with factual questions, then move to deeper, interpretive questions

Application questions connect their experience to the subject matter

Tips for Keeping the Discussion Productive LISTEN, listen! Ask for clarification, reaction from

others Call on people by name Record answers on whiteboard

(affirms the respondent)

Tips to Involve Non-Participants Allow students to think and/or

write down ideas before calling on them.

Reward infrequent contributors with a smile or other affirmation

Call on them when you know they know the answer

Technique #1Learning Through Discussion1. Students read assignment2. Write five discussion questions3. Discuss for 10-20 minutes

• Leader: take notes, moderate• Evaluator: observe and score

Guidelines for Scoring:  0 - Student did not participate in discussion and had no questions. 1 - Student participated but did not have discussion questions. OR Student was silent but had discussion questions. 2 - Student participated a little and had discussion questions. May not be very thoroughly prepared. Contributed only occasionally. Did not interact with others or respond to their ideas. May have got the discussion off track. May have arrived late or left early. 3 - Student made frequent, significant contributions and responded to the ideas of others. Keeps group on task, using time well, hearing from all members.

Advantages of Learning Through Discussion Community building Empowering Student leadership Team building Students better prepared Students more involved Better quality discussions

New Role for Instructor Control process not content Choose diverse, balanced groups Select stimulating readings Suggest directions for discussion

How Would This Work Online? Students post questions by day 4 Respond to two other students’

questions by day 6

Technique #2Bono’s Six Thinking Strategies Each student is assigned a role

White hat: neutral and objective, concerned with facts and figures

Red hat: emotional view Black hat: cautious and careful, pointing

out weaknesses in an idea Yellow hat: positive, hopeful thinking Green hat: creativity, new ideas Blue hat: controlled and organized

Tips for Discussions that Stimulate Critical Thinking Call on students to summarize what

another student says (active listening) Ask for concrete examples of a

complex theory Be quick to listen and slow to speak

(James 1:19) Answer all questions with a question

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19