Discussion Skills Across The Curriculum

Susan and I have discussed expanding discussion skills across the curriculum several times in this round of PLCs. We agree on several points:

• effective discussion skills are essential for becoming an educated, responsible adult; it is a life skill as much as an academic skill
• effective discussion skills can be learned through consistent practice in class
• effective discussion skills are best learned when the format combines structure and freedom
• discussion formats will require an acclimation period that will feel awkward at first
• regular practice in a given format is critical for success; it is an evolutionary process
• successful formats are evidenced by the extent to which the students are "running the show"

We also agreed on several important points for teachers:

• teaching discussion skills can feel really awkward for the teacher at first, since you are gradually  turning over class to the students
• that's a good thing
• the students get much more out of the material forming the basis of discussion when they are in charge of discussing it
• appropriate evaluation is best as a combination of individual and group performance

Finally,

• building a facility with group discussions can help build a more intellectually curious environment at Marshall School
• building a facility with group discussions be a difference-maker for a Marshall School education