Guidelines

  1. Do the readings yourself, ahead of time.
  2. Think of the major points or problems you think are worth discussing.
  3. Think of the major points or problems you think people ought to know, know about, or have thought about by the end of the discussion.
  4. Make a list of questions you think would be interesting to discuss (this is *not* the same as make a list of questions to which you think you know the answers).
  5. LISTEN to what people say. Listen actively. Listen to understand. Do not listen to react, to contradict, to inform. You may ask follow-up questions if you wish.
  6. When you ask a question, wait at least six seconds before talking again yourself.
  7. Do not answer your own questions.
  8. Think of small group questions that will help bring about your desired results.
  9. Think of active learning projects that will help bring about your desired results.

Adopted from “Engaged Learning through Student-Led and Student-Graded Discussions,” Memo to the Faculty 82, published by the Faculty Teaching Excellence Program of the University of Colorado Boulder.

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