On Fri, 9 Nov 2001, Rod Hetzel wrote:
> I wonder if a fishbowl approach would be helpful in generating class
> discussions. If your class is divided into learning communities (as
> they are in Louis' classroom), you could assemble two or three
> communities to sit in a circle and discuss the main points of the
> readings and discuss their questions. If your class is not divided into
> these learning communities, you could assemble five or six students to
> sit in a small group and discuss the material. During this process, the
> rest of the class could sit in a larger circle around them and observe
> (but not participate in) the content and process. After doing this for
> some period of time (maybe 10 or 15 minutes?), you could then open up
> the floor for a larger class discussion.
>
> I can see a number of struggles that would arise for me in doing this
> type of approach:
>
> How much do I let the smaller group determine the direction of their
> discussion?
>
> Should I interupt the smaller group if they are getting off-track or if
> they seem stuck?
>
> What if the smaller group doesn't have much to say and stay silent for
> the whole 15 minutes? Should I jump in and rescue them if this happens?
>
>
> Should I play a more active role when the discussion is open to the
> whole class?
>
> What topics is this kind of approach better suited for? And what topics
> would this approach not be appropriate for?
>
> When I was in school, I really got the most out of seminar-style class
> discussions, but I'm an ENFJ on the Myers-Briggs and love to do this
> kind of thing. My more introverted students might be uncomfortable with
> this approach or might not learn as much with this approach.
>
> Comments and thoughts?
>
The master teacher is a master at impromtu. I would think that you want
the students to develop "their" questions and in the process learn how to
perceive issues rather than respond to your questions. Otherwise, they
won't get out of that "what does he want" syndrome as well as the "how
will this affect by grade" attitude. It's all a learning process and not
a perfect on at that. I always look at each class as a practice session
expecting things not to go smoothly.
Make it a good day.
--Louis--
Louis Schmier www.therandomthoughts.com
Department of History www.halcyon.com/arborhts/louis.html
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698 /~\ /\ /\
229-333-5947 /^\ / \ / /~\ \ /~\__/\
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