Class discussions motivate students, help them retain knowledge, and help them develop problem-solving abilities. This page offers resources and strategies for facilitating strong discussions in face-to-face classrooms and online discussion boards.
See also: Structuring an online discussion
| Resources/strategies General |
Asking good questions |
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Improving Discussions (IDEA Center Paper No. 15) Teaching by Discussion (Penn State's Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence) Ten Strategies for Effective Discussion Leading (Harvard's Bok Center for Teaching and Learning) |
Asking good questions in the math classroom The Socratic method: What is it and how to use it in the classroom. (Newsletter from Stanford University's Center for Teaching and Learning). |
Publications by DePaul Faculty
Rotenberg, R. (2005). "The discussion classroom." Chapter in The art and craft of college teaching: A guide for new professors and graduate students. Walnut Creek, CA.
Additional Readings
Brookfield, S.D., & Preskill, S. (1999). Discussion as a way of teaching: Tools and techniques for a democratic classroom. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
MacKnight, C. B. (2000). Teaching critical thinking through online discussions. EDUCAUSE Quarterly 4, 38-41.
Nilson, L. (2003). "Leading effective discussions." Chapter in Teaching at its best: A research-based resource for college instructors. Second Edition. Bolton, MA. (Available at the Office for Teaching, Learning and Assessment)
Instructional Design and Development
- Resources on structuring and assessing discussions online
Office for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment
- Resources and research on discussion methods
