Discussions

Write down answers to the below questions, and be prepared to share with the group.

 

1. In your opinion and experience, why are discussions important in academic work?

2. What constitutes an effective discussion?

3. What challenges do you think you may face when participating in discussions as part of your study in the U.S.?

Focus Questions

Watch the video … http://www.gehrytechnologies.com/architecture/proj

ect-timeline

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBte1_S8yCg&playnext=1&list=PLA011739F4C57B94D&feature=results_main

Watch the video again… Source: http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBte1_S8yCg&playnext=1&list=PLA011739F4C57B94D&feature=results_main

Take notes while you watch the video.

1. What are the expressions that the students use to offer an opinion?

2. What expressions do they use to disagree with one another?

Why are discussions important? Your grade may depend on it.

Many professors base part of your grade on your ability to actively participate in class and group discussions.

Discussions will help facilitate your learning process. Your peers can teach you new ideas and approaches. You can solidify your own knowledge by teaching others.

Universities and the workplace encourage an exchange of ideas.

Many academic and work assignments will require collaboration (e.g., group projects).

More

What are traits or actions of a good

group discussion member?

What are traits or actions of a good group member?

A good group member is a good listener.

He/she comes prepared to discuss the assignments.

He/she takes notes.

He/she offer his/her opinion.

He/she cooperates with the rest of the team.

What are traits or actions of a good

group leader?

What are traits or actions of a good group leader?

A good group leader is confident.

He/she comes prepared.

He/she listens to his/her group members.

He/she asks for his/her group members’ opinions.

He/she keeps the group on target.

What are ways I can lead and

participate in a discussion?

1. What are ways to START a group discussion?

•So, shall we get s_____?

•Let’s b____.

•We have a lot of work to do, so l___ get started.

tarted

egin

et’s

2. What are ways to ASK for someone’s

OPINION?

•What do you t____ about…..?

•What’s your o_____ on….?

•How do you f__ about….?

hink

pinion

eel

3. What are ways to OFFER an OPINION?

•In my o_____…

•I t____ that…

•I f__ that…

pinion

hink

eel

4. What are ways to JOIN a LIVELY DISCUSSION?

•Can I j____ in here?

•Can I a__ something?

ump

dd

4. What are ways to AGREE with someone?

•That’s a good po__ …

•That’s a great i___...

• I a____ with Susan, and would like to add…

int

dea

gree

5. What are ways to DISAGREE with someone?

• That’s an interesting point, but I have to d______ …

• I’m sorry, but I have a different point of v___...

isagree

iew

6. What are ways to ASK for a DIFFERENT opinion?

•Let’s h___ from Susan. What do you think?

•What does the r___ of the group t____?

•What is an____ way of looking at this is___?

ear

est hink

other sue

7. What are ways to ASK for

CLARIFICATION?

•I didn’t catch that. Could you re____ it?

•Could you expl__ further? I don’t quite understand.

•I’m sorry, but I don’t understand. Could you elabor__?

peat

ain

ate

8. What are ways to SUMMARIZE the group’s

ideas or ASK FOR A CONSENSUS?

•Let’s briefly sum______ what we have discussed so far…

•Can we ag___ that…?ree

marize

9. What are ways to MOVE ON to a NEW IDEA or DISCUSSION QUESTION?

•I think we have enough information for #1, so let’s m___ on to the next question.

•Let’s start the n___section.

•Are we re___ to move on to the next part?

ove

ext

ady

10. What are ways to END the

DISCUSSION?

•It looks like we are out of time, so let’s wr__ up.

•Let’s st__ here, and decide our next steps.

•Let’s rev___ what we covered, and then wrap up for today.

ap

op

iew

Activity

Discussion Question:

Should women keep their maiden names after getting married?

Example

Eva: So, let’s get started! Our goal is to discuss whether or not we feel women should keep their maiden names. Who would like to start?

 

Hiro: I can start. I think that women should be able to keep their maiden names since it represents equality in marriage.

 

Jake: That’s a great point, Hiro! I also feel that women should keep their maiden names since it shows respect for her family’s history.

Eva: Thank you, Jake and Hiro. So, what does the rest of the group think?

 

Ramy: Well, in my opinion, women should take their husband’s name, but add it to their own. In other words, the can use a hyphenate.

 

Mei: That’s a good idea, Ramy! That way the couple can honor both families, but I think it may be confusing to the children if the wife uses both her and her husband’s name.

 

Eva: That’s a good point, Mei. Can we agree that women should keep their maiden names, but should consider its effect on the children?

 

Ramy: Yes, I think so.

 

Jake: I agree with your summary.

 

Ayako: I do as well.

Mei: We only have another five minutes left, so we should move on to the next discussion question.

 

Discussions (PART 2)

Process for managing discussions1. Determine group roles.

2. The group leader reads the question.

3. Each group member comments on the question.

4. The group summarizes the main ideas from the discussion.

5. The spokesperson reports to the class.

1. Leader

2. Note-taker

3. Spokesperson

4. Timekeeper

Step 1:Determine group roles (or at least some of them)

.

Takes notes on the main ideas of the group discussion

Keeps track of time

Makes sure each group member participates in the discussion

Reports the group’s ideas to the class

Leader? Note-taker? Spokesperson? Timekeeper?

Note-taker

Timekeeper

Leader

Spokesperson

Step 2:

The group leader reads the question.

• The group leader may also ask the note-taker to read the question.

• The group leader may also check to make sure everyone understands the question.

Step 3:

Each group member comments on the question.

•Allow everyone time to comment.

•Avoid interrupting others.

•Respect everyone’s opinions (although you may disagree).

Step 4:

The group summarizes the main ideas from the discussion.

• Review the notes from the discussion (from note-taker).

• Find a common theme.• In general, did the group members agree or

disagree with one another?• What were some of the reasons they used?

Step 5:The spokesperson reports to the class.

Steps:

State the general opinion of the group.

Offer the rationale for the opinion.

Provide any solution(s) or recommendation(s).

Report (Summary): In general, our group agreed that women should keep their maiden names as a way to honor their families. In addition, we also felt that women could use both their maiden and married names, but should consider how that may affect their children.

The summary should be brief, and focus on the main ideas of the discussion only.

PracticeWrite a discussion question that people are likely to have different experiences with or opinions about

Possible topics: U.S. educational system (today’s lecture), important skills in engineering (yesterday’s lecture), other current topics in engineering

PracticeLead a short discussion on this topic

Ask for your classmates’ opinions and keep the discussion on topic

Participants: Use expressions for stating an opinion, agreeing, disagreeing, etc.

1. Leader

2. Note-taker

3. Spokesperson

4. Timekeeper

Step 1:Determine group roles (or at least some of them)

.

Step 2:

The group leader reads the question.

• The group leader may also ask the note-taker to read the question.

• The group leader may also check to make sure everyone understands the question.

Step 3:

Each group member comments on the question.

•Allow everyone time to comment.

•Avoid interrupting others.

•Respect everyone’s opinions (although you may disagree).

Step 4:

The group summarizes the main ideas from the discussion.

• Review the notes from the discussion (from note-taker).

• Find a common theme.• In general, did the group members agree or

disagree with one another?• What were some of the reasons they used?

Evaluation Criteria Did the group leader read the discussion question to

the group?

Did each group member contribute to the discussion?

Did each group member use the expressions from the student handout?

Did the group summarize the discussion?

Did the spokesperson provide a summary to the class?

Takeaway Points

Participating in discussions is an integral part of your grade and learning process.

Effective discussions require each group member to participate and serve a specific role.

Be prepared to provide a summary of group discussions for your professor and classmates.

Be respectful of others and their opinions.

Beglar, D., & Murray, N. (Uploaded in 2009). Contemporary topics: Student discussion based on Gehry Lecture [Video]. Retrieved from http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBte1_S8yCg&playnext=1&list=PLA011739F4C57B94D&feature=results_main

Reference