Facilitating effective discussions to promote deeper learning and equitable engagement
Driving Question
"How can teachers facilitate effective discussions that promote equitable engagement, effective communication and critical thinking?"
Overall Learning Goal
For candidates to create, implement, and reflect on an effective discussion plan that promotes equitable engagement, critical thinking, and effective communication.
Effective Discussion Module Overview
The discussion module primarily focuses on the "communicating effectively" and "thinking critically" competencies.
It helps candidates consider the reasons why a discussion is effective, and explore how to design and structure discussions so they promote deeper learning and equitable engagement.
Faculty/instructors who are integrating this module into their courses can have students access the materials directly here on this website, or view it within the Canvas Free for Teachers course platform.
This site contains all of the core module material, but the Canvas version provides more directions, sequencing, and additional resources like supplemental classroom video examples and transcript files. Note that when students are watching the included videos, they can also use built-in transcript/closed captioning features.
Note that we've also included a faculty guide to support your planning. We welcome you to access this free, open-source module to enrich your teaching and address this important aspect of deeper learning!
Section 1
How can discussions promote deeper learning and equitable engagement?
Candidates analyze a classroom discussion to understand the use and implications of “equity moves” to promote equitable engagement and deeper learning.
Section 2
How can I use essential questions & talk moves to facilitate an effective discussion?
Candidates explore essential questions and talk moves in order to analyze a classroom discussion; candidates will identify the use and implications of each, to promote deeper learning and equitable engagement.
Resources
Section 3
Planning our practice: Essential Questions
Candidates use resources to develop Part 1 of an effective discussion plan, focused on designing essential questions.
Resources
Section 4
Planning our practice: Equity Moves and Talk Moves
Candidates use resources to develop Parts 2-4 of an effective discussion plan, focused on designing discussion protocols, talk moves and monitoring protocols.
Resources
Section 5
Being adaptive experts: Analyzing & improving our discussion practices
(CORE ACTIVITY)
Candidates implement their effective discussion plans, while peers observe and collect monitoring data.
Candidates examine feedback, make and justify changes to more effectively disrupt inequities through equitable engagement and deeper learning.