Creating Leading Engaging Classroom Discussions What Makes A

Creating & Leading Engaging Classroom Discussions

What Makes A Discussion Boring? Few students dominate Moving on too quickly Group too large Passivity

Objectives At the end of this workshop, I can: 1. Ask Thoughtful Questions 2. Encourage Student Reflection 3. Use Techniques to Encourage Student Interaction

• Size • Activity • Length 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What is an Engaging Discussion? Are the questions relevant? Is the topic relatable? Do they have a chance to speak? Do they have something to say? Have they done the reading?

Questions Use a mix • Recall • Describing • Applying Concepts • Connecting General & Specific Ideas • Evaluating Information – Judging/Defending/Criticizing • Combining Concepts to Form New Concepts

Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Questions Evaluation Stems* What criteria would you use to assess……. How would you determine… How could you verify…. What information would you use…. . Creation Stems* How would you generate a plan to…. What facts can you gather…… How would you explain the reason… What alternative would you suggest for…. . **More on Higher Order Thinking Questions

Questions Scenario What advice would you suggest to deal with the following situation: I often ask my students a question and after one of the faster students answers it and gets it right, I feel like I have to move on since everyone now knows the answer and the discussion dies. What should I do to keep the discussion alive?

1 Question – Many Answers • • Ask for Secondary Responses Avoid Yes/No questions Broad / Complicated Smaller / Multiple The worst question • Any Questions? • Recap / Concept Check Questions 50 Questions for Critical Thinking Classroom Discussion Guide

Reflection Techniques • What is reflection? • How is reflection related to discussion? • Why is reflection important? • What techniques do you know of or have you used to encourage student reflection?

Reflection Techniques • • • Pre-Writing Think-Pair-Share / Peer Instruction Social Learning / Group Work Survey Questions Pre-Quiz

Reflection • • Silence ≠ Negative Own the awkwardness 10 second rule Slow down & explore Implement signals Defer to other students Chips & Pass Cards

Reflection Comparison Compare and contrast the “pre-writing exercise” and the “think-pair-share” techniques. When would you use one and not the other and why? Think about the following factors: • When to use the technique • Why use the technique • How to use the technique

Interaction • Classroom Setup http: //www. displays 2 go. com/Article/Effective-Classroom-Seating-Arrangements-32

Interaction Techniques Speaking Line What’s your preferred classroom setup for discussions and why? What discussions do you think the biggest challenge of leading is? How do you deal with it? What do you usually do when you ask a question and students don’t answer?

Interaction Techniques Onion Rings – Pros & Cons

Interaction Techniques Stations

IDEA Evaluations • Asked students to share ideas and experiences with others whose backgrounds and viewpoints differ from their own • Encouraged students to reflect on and evaluate what they have learned • Formed teams or discussion groups to facilitate learning

Other Tips & Resources • • • Classroom Setup • • • Critical Thinking Questions (& Follow Up Questions) (source: http: //www. displays 2 go. com/Article/Effective-Classroom-Seating-Arrangements-32) http: //www. classroomdeskarrangement. com/Classroom. Desk. Arrangement/Welcome. html http: //blog. ampli. com/2014/03/classroom-layouts-seating-arrangements-for-effective-learning. html https: //thecornerstoneforteachers. com/classroom-seating-arrangements/ Higher Order of Thinking Questions www. nscsd. org/webpages/jennisullivan/files/blooms-question-starters. docx https: //www. edutopia. org/pdfs/stw/edutopia-cochrane-schturnaround-PD-essential-questions. pdf http: //medicine. wright. edu/sites/medicine. wright. edu/files/page/attachments/Question. Templates. pdf http: //www. palmyraschools. com/ps/District%20 Administration/Curriculum%20 and%20 Instruction/Professional%20 Development/ Higher%20 Order%20 Thinking%20 Presentation. pdf http: //www. teachthought. com/critical-thinking/questioning/metacognition-50 -questions-help-students-think/ University of MD Discussion Guide https: //tltc. umd. edu/classroom-discussions Other interaction techniques for discussion https: //www. cultofpedagogy. com/speaking-listening-techniques/

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