All students need to develop critical thinking skills to apply both to the classroom and the real world. To this end, the authors of this volume, as in Hills original text, use the eight-step plan of Learning Through Discussioncheck-in, vocabulary, general statement of authors message, identification and discussion of major themes and sub-topics, application of material to other works and to self, and evaluation of group and individual performance. Also discussed are cooperative learning, active participation, and interactioncriteria essential for developing an effective discussion group. The combination of cognitive and personal skills employed by the method allows the group to reach its primary goal: extended discussion and deeper understanding of the material.
Summary: Games to develop discussion skills, especially those required for handling open-ended questions and solving problems as well as remedial activities to use when a group becomes aggressive, inhibited, argues without definitions or encounters other difficulties.
A guide to thirty-five creative assignments for pairs and groups Collaborative Learning Techniques is the bestseller that college and university faculty around the world have used to help them make the most of small group learning. A mountain of evidence shows that students who learn in small groups together exhibit higher academic achievement, motivation, and satisfaction than those who don't. Collaborative learning puts into practice the major conclusion from learning theory: that students must be actively engaged in building their own minds. In this book, the authors synthesize the relevant research and theory to support thirty-five collaborative learning activities for use in both traditional and online classrooms. This second edition reflects the changed world of higher education. New technologies have opened up endless possibilities for college teaching, but it's not always easy to use these technologies effectively. Updated to address the challenges of today's new teaching environments, including online, "flipped," and large lectures, Collaborative Learning Techniques is a wonderful reference for educators who want to make the most of any course environment. This revised and expanded edition includes: Additional techniques, with an all-new chapter on using games to provide exciting, current, technologically-sophisticated curricula A section on effective online implementation for each of the thirty-five techniques Significantly expanded pedagogical rationale and updates on the latest research showing how and why collaborative learning works Examples for implementing collaborative learning techniques in a variety of learning environments, including large lecture classes and "flipped" classes Expanded guidance on how to solve common problems associated with group work The authors guide instructors through all aspects of group work, providing a solid grounding in what to do, how to do it, and why it is important for student learning. The detailed procedures in Collaborative Learning Techniques will help teachers make sure group activities go smoothly, no matter the size or delivery method of their classes. With practical advice on how to form student groups, assign roles, build team spirit, address unexpected problems, and evaluate and grade student participation, this new edition of the international classic makes incorporating effective group work easy.
An innovational teaching method designed to increase the understanding and retention of all types of material, with emphasis on authority in the structure and presentation of the subject materials. Specific recommendations are included to facilitate the correlation of the material being discussed with relevant details of group members' experience.
The Third Edition of this helpful book describes an eight-step method of utilizing discussion groups in college or university courses in order to encourage students to develop critical thinking skills and better retain knowledge of the class subject. The authors introduce the eight-step process plan the method employs - check-in, vocabulary, general statement of author's message, identification and discussion of major themes and sub-topics, application of material to other works and to self, and evaluation of the group and individual performance. They then discuss the essential criteria for developing an effective discussion group.
The Third Edition of this helpful book describes an eight-step method of utilizing discussion groups in college or university courses in order to encourage students to develop critical thinking skills and better retain knowledge of the class subject. The authors introduce the eight-step process plan the method employs - check-in, vocabulary, general statement of author's message, identification and discussion of major themes and sub-topics, application of material to other works and to self, and evaluation of the group and individual performance. They then discuss the essential criteria for developing an effective discussion group.
This book is written for all university and college teachers interested in experimenting with discussion methods in their classrooms. Discussion as a Way of Teaching is a book full of ideas, techniques, and usable suggestions on: * How to prepare students and teachers to participate in discussion * How to get discussions started * How to keep discussions going * How to ensure that teachers' and students' voices are kept in some sort of balance It considers the influence of factors of race, class and gender on discussion groups and argues that teachers need to intervene to prevent patterns of inequity present in the wider society automatically reproducing themselves inside the discussion-based classroom. It also grounds the evaluation of discussions in the multiple subjectivities of students' perceptions. An invaluable and helpful resource for university and college teachers who use, or are thinking of using, discussion approaches.
