Ask the students to think
about the best group discussions in which they have been involved. What
happened that made these discussions so satisfying?
Next ask the students to
think about the worst group discussion in which they have been involved.
What happened that made these discussions so unsatisfactory?
For each of the characteristics,
have the students suggest three things that the group might do to ensure
that these characteristics are present or not present as the case may
be.
Use the students' suggestions
to draft a set of ground rules on which you all agree.
Record the ground rules.
Copy the list and bring it to section the following week. This way all
students have copies that they can refer to over the semester.
Periodically, have the class
take a moment to evaluate whether or not the ground rules established
at the beginning of the semester are being followed and if they work.
Adapted from: Brookfield,
S. and Preskill, S. (1999). Discussion as a way of teaching: Tools
and techniques for democratic classrooms. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
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