Ten Tips When Facilitating Discussion

Ten Tips When Facilitating Discussion

	Paraphrase—paraphrase what someone has said so that the student feels understood and the other students can hear a concise summary of what’s been said at greater length.

	Check—check you understanding against the words of a student or ask a student to clarify what he or she is saying.

	Compliment—Compliment an interesting insightful comment.

	Elaborate—Elaborate on a student’s contribution to the discussion with examples, or suggest a new way to view the problem

	Energize—Energize a discussion by quickening the pace, using humor, or, if necessary, prodding the group for more contributions.

	Disagree—Disagree (gently) with a student’s comments to stimulate further discussion

	Mediate—Mediate differences of opinion between students, and relieve any tensions that may be brewing

	Pull Together—Pull together ideas, showing their relationship to each other.

	Change—Change the group process by altering the method for obtaining participation or moving the group to a stage of evaluating ideas that have been placed before the group.