|
Method 5: Discussion
To keep discussion focused, you might initially pose several key questions. The larger the group, the more likely that some participants will dominate and others remain silent. To ensure that everyone has the opportunity to speak, you may want to divide participants into smaller units. When any discussion concludes, summarize the main points orally and in writing.
- Small Groups: Size will depend on time and the sensitivity or complexity of the subject. In most cases each group selects a reporter to summarize its discussion.
- Buzz Groups: Participants discuss in pairs for a limited period. This method is especially effective for articulating ideas in preparation for a general discussion or to give expression to personal response to a film, presentation, or experience. After talking in pairs, couples might be asked to combine in groups of four and compare their opinions.
- Open Questioning: Facilitators need to develop the skills of keeping the goal of discussion clearly in mind and of asking questions that encourage participation and analysis. Here are some typical forms of open questions:
- Hypothetical: “What would you do if...?”
- Speculating: “How might we solve this problem?”
- Defining: “Can you say more about how that idea would work?”
- Probing: “Why do you think that?”
- Clarifying/Summarizing: “Am I right to say that you think...?”
- Rules for Discussion: One way to help create an environment of trust and mutual respect is to have participants develop “Rules for Discussion”:
Ask participants to think of some principles for discussion, which they think everyone should follow.
Write all of these suggestions where everyone can see them, combining and simplifying where necessary. If not already mentioned, you might want to suggest some of the following principles:
- Listen to the person who is speaking;
- Only one person speaks at a time;
- Raise your hand to be recognized if you want to say something;
- Don’t interrupt when someone is speaking;
- When you disagree with someone, make sure that you make a difference between criticizing someone’s idea and criticizing the person;
- Don’t laugh when someone is speaking (unless she or he makes a joke!);
- Encourage everyone to participate.
Copy the list of rules neatly and hang it where participants can refer, add, or make changes to it as necessary.
Back
|
|