Discussions, at their best, challenge students to develop critical thinking skills: to weigh evidence, test propositions, and reach their own conclusions. While being knowledgeable about the topic under discussion is important for leading meaningful discussions, creating an environment in which students feel comfortable engaging with ideas is even more so.

1. UNIT 4 (C)
ENGAGING LEARNERS IN
LANGUAGE LEARNING –
- IMPORTANCE OF
QUESTIONING AND TYPES OF
QUESTIONING,
- DISCUSSION BASED
LEARNING
Deepali Gaurav
Borde
CSSM

2. DISCUSSION BASED LEARNING

3. MEANING
• Discussion involves two-way communication between participants.
• In the classroom situation an instructor and trainees all participate in
discussion.
• During discussion, the instructor spends some time listening while the
trainees spend sometimes talking.
• The discussion is, therefore, a more active learning experience for the
trainees than the lecture.

4. • A discussion is the means by which people share experiences, ideas and
attitudes.
• As it helps to foster trainees involvement in what they are learning, it
may contribute to desired attitudinal changes.
• Discussion may be used in the classroom for the purpose of lesson
development, making trainees apply what they have learnt or to monitor
trainees learning by way of feedback.

5. DEFINITION
"An activity in which people talk together in order to share
information a topic or problem or to seek possible available
evidence. It is used more and more in student-centered learning
venues as a means of engaging students in the “active”
construction of learning”.

6. CHARACTERISTICS DISCUSSION METHOD
• Teacher divides the class in to different groups and gives the topic of the
discussion to each group.
• Every group has a leader to anchor and conduct the discussion.
• Students who have leadership quality should be selected for anchoring.
• Relevant topic should only be considered.
• In the end, teacher draws the conclusion of the discussion with the help of
leaders.

7. • Ensure maximum participation.
• Students have the opportunity to criticize and evaluate.
• Logical and meaningful criticism should be accepted.
• Students should anchor the discussion themselves.
• Keeping teachers as guide.
• Teacher selects the topic only with the help of students.
Continue….

8. TYPES OF DISCUSSION METHOD
Discussion method includes….
1. Small group discussion method
2. Socialized classroom discussion technique
3. Panel discussion method

9. SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION METHOD

10. • Small group discussion allows presenters to announce a topic or
idea for group discussion among participants.
• A small-group discussion follows democratic guidelines and
allows everyone to contribute many ideas for others
to discuss and reflect upon.
• Discussion allows for an interchange of ideas within a context of
a group under the direction of the presenter.

11. SOCIALIZED CLASSROOM DISCUSSION TECHNIQUE
• It is a technique of teaching in
which a friendly spirit of
cooperation prevails.
• Children discuss the various social,
economic, cultural, political and
moral problems and discover for
themselves the real meaning and
significance of these.

12. PANEL DISCUSSION METHOD
A Panel discussion is a
method of teaching in which
four to eight persons or
students discuss the
assigned topic/ problem/
issues creatively among
themselves in front of an
audience

13. APPROPRIATE USE OF DISCUSSION METHOD
• Discussion method is used in areas in which students already have
some knowledge or experience, discussion may be used to develop
the main points to be covered in a lesson
• Students can draw on their experience to contribute to the discussion.
• All subject except mathematics, art, music, dance can be taught.
• Discussion may also be used, following a lecture or demonstration, to
help trainees apply what they have learned.

14. ADVANTAGES OF DISCUSSION METHODS
• Thinking and communicating powers
• Leadership quality
• Expression ability
• Problem solving ability
• Creativity
• Motivation and confidence In short higher level cognitive and affective
objectives can be realized through discussion method.

15. DISADVANTAGES OF DISCUSSION METHOD
• There is a chance that only a few students may dominate the whole
discussion.
• It is possible that discussion is initiated on those aspects of the problem
with which few prominent students of the class are concerned.
• It is time consuming.
• Not adaptable to all teaching-learning situations.
• If it is not properly guided, a discussion can degenerate into a consideration
of inappropriate topics adding confusion rather than clarification to the
lesson.

16. The procedure of Discussion may be divided into the following three steps :
1. Preparation for Discussion
• To conduct the discussion properly and effectively, thorough
preparation for the same is a pre- requisite.
• The topic of discussion may be decided upon and the students
may be provided with the names of the reference books and
other reading-material from which the students may read the
relevant material in order to take part effectively in the
discussion.
Procedure of the Discussion

17. 2) Conduct of Discussion
• This implies holding the discussion in a successful manner.
• The discussion should be systematic and disciplined. The arrangement of
seats should be such as to permit face-to-face conversation.
• The teacher should see that everybody cooperates and takes part in the
discussion.
• A few students should not be allowed to dominate the discussion. The
discussion must result in some sort of an agreement.

18. 3) Evaluation of Discussion
• After the discussion, the main arguments raised during the discussion must
be summed up.
• The advantages and the limitations must be thoroughly weighed and
evaluated.
• The outcomes of the discussion must be properly assessed, and lessons
and guidelines must be drawn to make the discussion more effective and
successful in future.

19. ROLE OF THE TEACHER
• The success of Discussion Method depends greatly on the teacher who is
supposed to be a guide-cum-counsellor-cum-advisor.
• He/she should ensure that every student participates actively in the
discussion, and makes his own contribution for the solution of the problem
under discussion.
• He/she is also to maintain proper discipline, and see that the students
should not go away from the topic under discussion.
• The teacher is the leader of the discussion and must guide the students
without using his authority.

20. • He/she should see that the discussion is a cooperative experience, not a
competitive quarrel.
• He/she must discourage any personal attacks and must seek to bring the
participants to focus their comments on the proposition and not on the
person.
• The teacher is responsible for retaining control of the class and is
responsible for seeing that the discussion makes progress.
• Thus, the success of Discussion Method mostly depends upon the teacher.