LTEC 4440/ATTD 5440 Module 6 - Leading Discussion (primer) Advanced Instructional Strategies

1. Tips for Facilitating
Discussions

2. Tips
• Paraphrase. Paraphrase.
– “So, what you’re saying is that we need to…”

3. Tips
• Check for meaning
– “Are you saying that….”

4. Tips
• Give positive feedback. Compliment
– “That’s a good point.”
– “I never thought of that before.”
– “Thanks for bringing that to our attention.”

5. Tips
• Expand and elaborate
– “Your comments provide an interesting point.
Let’s take this idea a bit further.”

6. Tips
• Increase the pace. Energize
– “Here’s a challenge for you. For
the next two minutes, see how
many ways you can think of
to…”

7. Tips
• Devil’s advocate. Disagree
– “I can see where you are coming from, but I’m
not sure that what you are describing is
always the case.”
– “Has anyone else had an experience that is
different from Jamal’s?”

8. Tips
• Relieve Tension. Mediate
– “I think that Lynda and Ron are
not really disagreeing with each
other, but are just bringing out two
different sides of this issue.”

9. Tips
• Consolidate. Pull together
– “As you can see from Mohammed’s and
Kathy’s comments…”
– “Who else can add to what Joyce, Fran and
Tim have already commented on?”

10. Tips
• Change the process
– “Let’s break into small groups and see if you
can come up with….”

11. Tips
• Summarize. Summarize.
– “I have listed four major points that have
come from our discussion.”