Facilitating Discussions
Civil and productive discussions are an important part of higher education both in the classroom and in today's work environments. Facilitating good discussions in your classroom teaches your students how to effectively manage future discussions they may participate in. Learn strategies for facilitating discussions in your classroom. Find tips for moderating sensitive or potentially difficult topics. But most importantly, ensure your students are learning from their classroom discussions.
The strategies and resources listed here are part of the Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education Instructional series.
Video
In this instructional video NDSU staff offer information on Universal Design for Learning with a specific emphasis on facilitating discussions. This video offers practical advice for structuring discussions in your class.
View slideshow in Powerpoint | PDF | Audio(MP3)
Resources
Here is a list of resources for facilitating discussions with diverse students.
Resources
- Information on Rubrics | ITS Knowledgebase
- Discussion in the College Classroom: Getting Your Student Engaged and Participating In Person and Online by Jay R. Howard | Amazon or Josey-Bass
- How (Not) to Facilitate Classroom Discussion | Ferris Buellers Day Off
- Discussion Preparation Organizer Template - View in Microsoft Word | PDF | Audio (MP3)
- Rally Robin Cooperative Learning Activity - View in Microsoft Word | PDF | Audio (MP3)
- Silent Discussion Activity - View in Microsoft Word | PDF | Audio (MP3)