2 RoARs in One!!
How do you set up a successful discussion?
I really liked the ideas we read from Johannessen about sparking conversations through controversy. Controversy is great because people often have opinions about those topics. Even more importantly, students can be taught about persuasive and respectful rhetoric and good rules of common courtesy for participating in a discussion. Another good topic starter that Johannessen talks about are conversations where there is no right answer. Sometimes I think teachers kill conversation in the classroom because they ask questions that everyone already knows the answer to and doesn't have anything more to say about. Finally, I think the community has to be laid out before any of this happens. Going back to our beginning discussions for this class, if the community isn't safe I don't care what topic you use, your students will not participate (or at least not all of them if they feel endangered.
Ahh, DHTMaster, you are right. I particularly thought about the comment about asking questions that everyone already knows the anser to. Hmm. I have to reassess my own questioning practices. :)
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