DiscusP&O.htm

Planning and Observation: Guided Discussion

Name __________________ Topic ___________________________
Observers   _______________Date:   ___________ Setting _______________________
Developed as part of the South Dakota StateUniversity Model Based Instruction Undergraduate Teacher Education Program, 1991-1999

CONTEXTING:
PRE-DISCUSSION
Activities and Strategies observed or planned:

1. Ask Sparking Question that connects to students' backgrounds and experiences. This question is brief and quick, designed to serve as an introduction only.

2. Ask Focusing Question which will serve as a basis for the discussion. This question will identify an issue, present a problem for solution, be aimed at generating and evaluating alternatives and varying points of view. The question itself must be visible during the discussion.

3. Assign Think and Write for personal and individual response. Students write their own initial perspective on the question and briefly support it.

4. Organize Pair / Share: Students briefly explain their initial perspectives and reasons for that view with another person.

COMPREHENDING:
DURING DISCUSSION
Activities and Strategies observed or planned

5. Guide the Discussion using planned higher order questions that help students understand and interpret the content. Repeat
a) Record Ideas and b) Facilitate Discussion through strategies:
Listening: Eye contact, wait time, body
     language.
Questioning: Follow up questions, probes,
     maintaining focus
Responding: Restatements, re-enforcement,
    praise, asking for clarification
Participation: Conscious acts to involve
     all students in discussion
Interactions: Conscious acts to encourage
     student --->student interactions.

Learning: Post-Discussion Activities and Strategies observed or planned:

6. Analyze Discussion within context of the focusing questions. Summarizing interactions and strategies that help students connect and organize the range of ideas presented in the discussion. Whenever possible, students should provide the analysis statements.

7. Guide Evaluation Integration of Ideas to Initial Response through reflection on the first perspective of step 3. Students individually clarify and compare their current perspectives to their earlier views and account for changes that resulted from the discussion.

8. Re-Connect to Course Goals and Outcomes. Activities and strategies that help students re-connect the ideas in the discussion to the course overall and the significant outcomes of the school.

CONTEXTING: PRE-DISCUSSION	Activities and Strategies observed or planned:
1. Ask Sparking Question that connects to students' backgrounds and experiences. This question is brief and quick, designed to serve as an introduction only.
2. Ask Focusing Question which will serve as a basis for the discussion. This question will identify an issue, present a problem for solution, be aimed at generating and evaluating alternatives and varying points of view. The question itself must be visible during the discussion.
3. Assign Think and Write for personal and individual response. Students write their own initial perspective on the question and briefly support it.
4. Organize Pair / Share: Students briefly explain their initial perspectives and reasons for that view with another person.
COMPREHENDING: DURING DISCUSSION	Activities and Strategies observed or planned
5. Guide the Discussion using planned higher order questions that help students understand and interpret the content. Repeat a) Record Ideas and b) Facilitate Discussion through strategies: Listening: Eye contact, wait time, body language. Questioning: Follow up questions, probes, maintaining focus Responding: Restatements, re-enforcement, praise, asking for clarification Participation: Conscious acts to involve all students in discussion Interactions: Conscious acts to encourage student --->student interactions.
Learning: Post-Discussion	Activities and Strategies observed or planned:
6. Analyze Discussion within context of the focusing questions. Summarizing interactions and strategies that help students connect and organize the range of ideas presented in the discussion. Whenever possible, students should provide the analysis statements.
7. Guide Evaluation Integration of Ideas to Initial Response through reflection on the first perspective of step 3. Students individually clarify and compare their current perspectives to their earlier views and account for changes that resulted from the discussion.
8. Re-Connect to Course Goals and Outcomes. Activities and strategies that help students re-connect the ideas in the discussion to the course overall and the significant outcomes of the school.