ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we describe the purpose of the discussion method, including the opportunity for students to engage with course content in thoughtful verbal exchanges that can lead to higher-order thinking. Included in this chapter are descriptions of 11 different types of discussions, categorized by size of group, function, level of structure, and environment. The functions that online discussions serve are also outlined, along with specific advice on how to set up a successful online discussion. To frame the organization and sequence of the discussion method, the Initiation-Response-Evaluate model is outlined. Advantages of the discussion method include helping instructors ensure students are meeting learning goals, increasing student motivation, and providing a constant exchange with peers that allows students the opportunity to ask clarifying questions when needed. The primary disadvantage of this method is that using discussions requires significant preparation time and can take considerable class time. The chapter concludes with what the research tells us about how to improve student learning in discussion-based classes and detailed descriptions of 13 active learning strategies that can be used with discussion methods.
