method 6 disscusion

8/13/2019 METHOD 6 Disscusion

1/3

METHOD 6: 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.

1. Small Groups: Size will depend on time and the sensitivity or complexity of the su!ect. "nmost cases each group selects a reporter to summarize its discussion.

#. Buzz Groups: $articipants 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. %fter talking in pairs, couples might easked to comine in groups of four and compare their opinions.

&. Open Questioning: 'acilitators need to develop the skills of keeping the goal of discussionclearly in mind and of asking questions that encourage participation and analysis. (ere are some

typical forms of open questions)

* (ypothetical) +What would you do if...+

* Speculating) +(ow might we solve this prolem+

* -efining) +an you say more aout how that idea would work+

* $roing) +Why do you think that+

* larifying/Summarizing) +%m " right to say that you think...+

0. ules !or Dis"ussion: ne way to help create an environment of trust and mutual respect is tohave participants develop +2ules for -iscussion+)

a3 %sk participants to think of some principles for discussion, which they think everyone should

follow.

3 Write all of these suggestions where everyone can see them, comining and simplifying where

necessary. "f not already mentioned, you might want to suggest some of the following principles)

* 4isten to the person who is speaking5

* nly one person speaks at a time5

* 2aise your hand to e recognized if you want to say something5

* -on6t interrupt when someone is speaking5


2/3

* When you disagree with someone, make sure that you make a difference etween criticizing

someone6s idea and criticizing the person5

* -on6t laugh when someone is speaking 7unless she or he makes a !oke835

* 9ncourage everyone to participate.

c3 opy the list of rules neatly and hang it where participants can refer, add, or make changes to

it as necessary.

E#amples o! Met$o%:

&ABC:+:e and :y Senses,+ +Wishing;well,+ +$rotecting hildren,+ +hild Soldiers,+ +9quality

efore the 4aw,+

+ultural "dentity,+ +Should erc.hrea.org/4irary/


3/3

C. Tal'ing Sti"': "n this method, derived from Dative %merican tradition, anyone who speaks

must e holding a designated o!ect, which could literally e a stick or anything else easily

visile and portale. This method uilds awareness of sharing the +air time.+

E#ample o! Met$o%:

&First Steps:+Talking Stick.+=>erc.hrea.org/4irary/'irstASteps/index.html@

E. Tal'ing Ti"'ets: To provide everyone an equal opportunity to speak, give each participant

three +talking tickets,+ each representing a certain amount of +air time.+ nce someone has used

all her or his tickets, that person has no further opportunities to speak.

F. T$in'+,air+S$are: $articipants have time to write or simply think on their own aout a

critical question5 they then link with one other person to discuss and then ring their reflections

to the entire group.

1G. *rite (roun%: This method is a discussion in written form. $ose a key question and askeveryone to write a response at the top of a page. 9ach paper is then passed to the person on the

right, who reads the first statement and responds to it y writing something elow. 2epeat the

process until three or four people have had a chance to respond. Then pass the papers ack to theleft so that everyone can see what has een written in this +silent discussion.+

method 6 disscusion

Documents