Implementing Meaningful Discussion Methods in the Secondary Classroom

Best practice/research in education has long stressed the need for students to grapple and engage with information for them to truly understand it as well as commit it to their long-term memory. One way to do this is through different discussion methods. As a student-centered method, this is not only a way for students to learn and retain knowledge but also a vital interpersonal skill that they will need in both their professional and private lives. However, not all conversations and discussions in the classroom are effective. Too often, they are used as a time waster or an added extra instead of a well-planned, meaningful learning experience. This course unpacks this method as an engaging pedagogical tool that can be used across multiple disciplines and levels at the middle and secondary levels. Specific methods will include debates, the Harkness method, spider-web discussions, and the fishbowl.  Each session will review the theoretical underpinnings of the approaches, give practical examples, and implement the versions. By the end of this course, participants will be able to plan, implement, and assess students using varying forms of discussion in their classrooms.  

After completing this course, participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding the theoretical underpinnings and rationale for using well-planned discussions in the classroom 
• Choose and develop lesson plans with discussion methods for varying classroom settings and topics 
• Evaluate and assess ‘best practice’ for discussions  
• Design and implement a classroom discussion to develop and assess student learning

Mode of Delivery
In-person Training

Eligibility
All educators and Inclusion teams in Ras Al Khaimah and the United Arab Emirates