Eating an Elephant

One Bite at a Time

This week we are looking at two methods that require students to present their ideas in front of a group of peers. Not only is this another great team work assignment, it works many different sets of skills, such as organizing time and information, researching, critical analysis, interpretive analysis, and oral communication. It also provides students with a form of peer review through the question and answer process.

Panel Discussions - Panel discussions are especially useful when students are asked to give class presentations or reports as a way of including the entire class in the presentation. Student groups are assigned a topic to research and asked to prepare presentations. Each panelist is then expected to make a very short presentation, before the floor is opened to questions from "the audience". The key to success is to choose topics carefully and to give students sufficient direction to ensure that they are well-prepared for their presentations. You might also want to prepare the "audience", by assigning them various roles. For example, if students are presenting the results of their research into several forms of energy, you might have some of the other students role play as concerned environmentalists, transportation officials, commuters, and so forth.

Debates - Formal debates provide an efficient structure for class presentations when the subject matter easily divides into opposing views or "Pro"/ "Con" considerations. Students are assigned to debate teams, given a position to defend, and then asked to present arguments in support of their position on the presentation day. The opposing team should be given an opportunity to rebut the arguments and, time permitting, the original presenters asked to respond to the rebuttal. This format is particularly useful in developing argumentation skills, in addition to teaching content.

If you have time and don't want to wait for the next bite, you can find the rest of the toolbox in myOzarka under the "Ozarka Resources" tab.

Or you can follow this link:

http://www.ozarka.edu/files/resources/teachingtoolbox.doc

I will be posting each section in the Student Success Center Blog. So if you are interested in checking out "back bites," you can find them there.

Or you can follow this link:
http://www.ozarka.edu/blogs/success/index.cfm/Weekly-Postings-for-Faculty-

Hope you enjoyed it.