Skills for managing a successful group discussion

What scares you about participating in a group discussion:

I won’t be able to think of anythingPeople will laugh at meIt’s embarrassingI don’t feel comfortable unless I have

planned what I am doing

Activity One: Loosening up

Walk slowly around the room , pointing to objects in the room. As you point to them, say the name of the object.

Point to an object ,but call it the previous object you pointed to.

Point to an object and call it anything in the world BUT the object’s name.

Activity Two: Loosening up

In pairs assign an A and a B. A is to imagine he/she is holding an imaginary box.

A needs to ask, What’s in the box? B will mime pulling something out and identify it

eg it’s a dog, it’s the Titanic, it’s a starYou must make a comment appropriate to the

object eg it looks ferocious, very wet, bright.Swap roles

Building and accepting

In pairs A says, “Let’s all… “ and then include an activity.

B must accept the idea and then build upon it, “Yes, and…”

This will develop your ability to hear an idea, learn to accept it and then try to build upon it. It is the essence of collaborative discussion.

Endowing and statusA and B will take the roles of servant and

boss. The boss must start off the conversation and must hold the floor (speak) until they run out of things to say or falters, at which time, the servant must instantly take over as the boss, and the roles switch.

Continue switching when the boss runs out of ideas. (3 mins)

The topic: Everything I know about English

Endowing and Status

Two groups join so there is person A, B, C and D. One becomes the boss, the rest servants. Again, the boss remains until they run out of ideas or falter. Then the first servant to take over becomes the boss.

The topic: Everything I know about R&J.

What did we learn?

Consider your last activity. Some of us naturally take the lead, and some don’t. Consider who stayed a servant most of the time?? How did they feel when they were in the role of the boss (if you became one)?

Were you having a discussion? What made it one/ lacked in making it one?

Endowing status

Each students is given a number from 1-20, and a topic: Why great writers are important.

You must tell each other your number.The person with higher status must act as if they

are the leader of the conversation and dominate the conversation.

Do this until told to switch. The lower number must help the leader stay in

control of the conversation.

How did the listener help the leader? (What strategies did the listener employ?)

If you were able to help your leader then you were endowing them.

Let’s list these strategies down:

Endowing status

Students to receive a card, but this time they are not to see the other’s card.

Students should discuss a topic, asserting either their high/ low status depending on their card, and what they think the other person has.

Topic: (fill in)

How did we act?What techniques did we use when we

were of a higher status? As a lower status how did you endow status to your partner?

Now allocate yourself a number 1-20, what your natural ‘number’ would be in a group.

Add 10 if your number was between 1-10, or minus 10 if your number was between 11-20.

You now have your new numbers your topic is:

The most important character in Romeo and Juliet is…

Applying to a group discussion

It’s important to take the lead at some point/s in the discussion, and to endow status to others at other times.

Imagine everyone is now a 10. Topic: Which character is the most interesting? Discuss the role each of the following and rate them from most interesting to least: Romeo, Juliet, Nurse, F.L., Mercutio, Tybalt, Benvolio.

In a group discussion how might we take leadership and endow others, to allow everyone to speak and have a successful collaborative discussion?

Reflection

What number did you end up being in the discussion?

What strategies did you use to help others when you listened?

What did you try to do as the leader?How could you improve to become and

‘perfect 10 “ in future discussion?