This resource covers strategies for facilitating academic discussions in a variety of teaching settings, including tips for planning discussions, options for whole and small-group discussion types, considerations for assessing student discussions, and relevant research.
Keywords: discussion, small group discussion, discussion forums, active learning, community agreements, discussion norms, strategic questions, participation.
Bobby Borg of the USC Thornton School of Music discusses how student teams can use fictional artist personas to collaboratively create innovative music marketing strategies during the February 2024 Faculty Showcase.
Tara Mastro of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology discusses utilizing the power of group learning where student groups design a pitch for a public awareness campaign during the February 2024 Faculty Showcase.
Leonardo Morsut of the USC Keck School of Medicine discusses a strategy to structure group assignments for in-class activities using collaborative tools during the February 2024 Faculty Showcase.
During the February 2024 Faculty Showcase, Helen Choi of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering discusses a group assignment strategy where students work in small groups to improve Wikipedia articles in engineering or science and how this collaborative structure encourages good digital citizenship.
Julianna Kirschner of USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism discusses the development of collaborative sustainability work in a Small Group and Team Communication class with support from the Sustainability Across the Curriculum Grant during the February 2024 Faculty Showcase.
Siqin (Sisi) Want of the USC Dornsife Spatial Sciences Institute discusses a group assignment strategy where students evaluate land use suitability for future housing development and share their work with local stakeholders during the February 2024 Faculty Showcase.
Anita Dashiell-Sparks of the USC School of Dramatic Arts discusses how students can work collaboratively using theater games and improvisation to experientially connect, apply, and embody material or content explored in the coursework and how this interactive approach can help deepen understanding of the subject matter through literature and research during the February 2024 Faculty Showcase.
This resource provides tips and considerations for instructors in facilitating discussions or activities in large enrollment classes without teaching assistant support.
This resource provides strategies for integrating current event topics into your course.
Center for Excellence in Teaching