Teaching by Discussion

Teaching by discussion helps students apply abstract ideas, think critically, and develop higher-order reasoning skills, goals that can be achieved through planning.  To prepare discussion-based courses, it is helpful to distinguish among a variety of discussion types, each of which has distinctive goals and features.

Deliberative Discussions

In deliberative discussions, students consider a variety of voices and experiences in order to collaboratively create meaning.  Discussions in college classrooms often are organized around the following types.

• Appreciation:  Students examine cultures, values, and styles.  Discussions of the humanities often begin with a focus on appreciation.

• Issues:  Choices, assumptions, values, goals, and politics are considered.  The social sciences rely on these discussions.

• Analysis:  The focus for discussion is methodology, reasoning, disciplinary thinking, rules, assumptions, and ways of problem solving.  The law, sciences, and business depend on these discussions. 

Consensus Discussions

In consensus discussions, students apply criteria and clarify options to judge or choose a course of action.

• Involves collaboration

• Used often by panels of judges

• Can be effectively preceded by hearings

Hearings

Hearings allow students to gather information and consider expertise and experience.  Hearings can be effective first steps for deliberative or consensus discussions.  They can take a variety of forms.

• Interviews

• Question-and-answer sessions

• Focus groups

• Forums, panels, or a series of short presentations

Work Sessions

In work sessions, students obtain useful feedback for developing and revising their work, such as papers, reports, performances, designs, and creative pieces.  Work sessions have a variety of names:  workshops, studios, labs, charettes, study sessions.  They produce effective discussion settings for several kinds of assignments.

• Projects

• Case Studies

• Problem solving

• Peer review

Debates

Debates involve taking a stand, developing formal or informal arguments, and persuading others.

• Deliberative discussions often collapse when they become debates.

• Debates need careful preparation and formal structures to succeed.

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