In Practice

Tips and Tricks

• Encourage students to learn each other's names and interests.
• Get to know as many of your students as class size permits.
• Arrange seating to promote discussion.
• Allow the class time to warm up before you launch into the discussion.
• Limit your own comments.
• Make certain each student has an opportunity to talk in class during the first two or three weeks.
• Plan an icebreaker activity early in the semester.
• Ask students to identify characteristics of an effective discussion.
• Periodically divide students into small groups.
• Assign roles to students.
• Use poker chips or "comment cards" to encourage discussion.
• Use electronic mail to start a discussion.
• Build rapport with students.
• Bring students' outside comments into class.
• Use nonverbal cues to encourage participation.
• Draw all students into the discussion.
• Give quiet students special encouragement.
• Discourage students who monopolize the discussion.
• Tactfully correct wrong answers.
• Reward but do not grade student participation.