Discussions in a Democratic Society

                This chapter made me think of previous courses I took that were mostly discussion based. I feel that this is one of the best learning styles as multiple viewpoints are presented. Oftentimes, students may present perfectly valid viewpoints that the instructor hasn’t even thought of. Also, these type of lessons/courses are more engaging and have a more lasting effect on students. I have always paid more attention to what is going on in group discussions over just the instructor lecturing the whole room. Discussion allows for more two-way communication, whereas just lecture is mostly one-way. Students are able to ask clarifying questions of the instructor in a lecture-style environment, but they are only exposed to a single viewpoint. By being exposed to multiple, diverse viewpoints, students can increase their critical thinking skills by exploring how they all tie together or clash with each other.

                One part of the chapter that explored the downsides of discussion-based learning that I thought was interesting was how quieter students might not contribute as much to the conversation. One way I would try to circumvent this in a classroom would be to introduce the discussion topic to the class and have them individually write out their response and opinion on the topic. After every student has responded, I would then open up the discussion to them. Now that each student has their own answer, they may feel more inclined to share it with the class and compare it to other students’ opinions. If these students still choose not to volunteer, I could call on random students to share their viewpoints when the discussion starts to die down, so as not to cut in too much. Since they already have an idea written down, they won’t be as flustered and put on the spot.

                I also liked what the chapter said about the different dispositions, particularly autonomy. Discussion are important for being introduced to a wide array of opinions and viewpoints, but that doesn’t mean a student’s personal opinion has to change. In fact, being exposed to more viewpoints can help a student stand by their original statement. The student now has more viewpoints with which to compare theirs to and can use that to strengthen their argument. While there may not be a right or wrong solution to the topic being discussed, holding on to one’s own viewpoint while still considering and incorporating others’ can help increase understanding and learning.