Tips for setting up class discussions for student engagement: Opinion

Setting up class discussions well rather than “lurching” into them is key to successful engagement, writes John J Silvestro. To make discussions more engaging, Silvestro encourages instructors to situate the discussion by explaining how the topic relates to larger course themes or student skills. The author explains that presenting students with the value of the work they are doing in the discussion also increases engagement by demonstrating the significance of a discussion. “[W]e need to both develop a situation and value for each discussion we hold and clearly explain both to students before each discussion,” writes Silvestro. Inside Higher Ed (Editorial)