Facilitating Discussions – Nov. 1
Tutorials, whether online or in-person, are typically highly participatory spaces where students have an opportunity to voice their own knowledge and opinions about course content. Facilitating discussions, though, can be intimidating. What do we do if no one raises their hand to speak? How do we make sure it’s not the same students speaking every week? How do we manage disagreement among students and ensure the discussion stays polite and respectful? How can we manage asynchronous and synchronous discussions in a way that enhances participation and learning? In this workshop you will be introduced to a variety of methods for choosing engaging discussion topics and facilitating active discussions in the classroom. Then, we will have a discussion of our own to brainstorm more ways to ensure class discussions promote positive learning experiences for our students.
