<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Read
Review: For people who want to become more effective in using discussion in teaching, especially with adults, this book is an excellent choice. It explains clearly and honestly the value and the limits of using discussion in teaching. From the opening chapter, in which dispositions of discussion are introduced, to chapters on preparing for discussion, sparking discussion, and keeping discussion going, the book remains engaging, practical, and genuinely helpful to those of us striving to become better facilitators of discussion.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Read
Review: For people who want to become more effective in using discussion in teaching, especially with adults, this book is an excellent choice. It explains clearly and honestly the value and the limits of using discussion in teaching. From the opening chapter, in which dispositions of discussion are introduced, to chapters on preparing for discussion, sparking discussion, and keeping discussion going, the book remains engaging, practical, and genuinely helpful to those of us striving to become better facilitators of discussion.
Rating: 
Summary: I am not a teacher
Review: I am not a teacher, so I read this book looking for ways to better facilitate discussions/dialogues in democratic settings outside of the classroom. There are so many good ideas. My favorite is the Circle of Voices- 5 people stand in a circle, each speaking uninterrupted for 3 minutes. When you go back to the full group, you are only supposed to report the ideas of the others who were in your circle, so that everyone's opinion is heard, even if they are not a forceful speaker.
Rating:
Summary: Very useful book!
Review: I've been teaching at the college level for over ten years, and I'm always searching for new ideas to use in the classroom. When I ordered this book, I wasn't sure what to expect since the reviews were mixed; however, I was very pleased with this book.
The authors give some really useful and interesting ideas of different techniques and strategies that can be used to promote insightful, prolonged discussions. While I've run across some of the authors' suggestions before (such as using buzz groups or the jigsaw method), most of the suggestions were new and I can certainly see myself using most of the techniques in the classroom in the coming weeks. It is an expensive book, but worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of good ideas I could use
Review: I've used discussion a lot over the years and often been frustrated by my students who seemed to be bored with it so I'm always on the look out for something that would help me. I had to read this book for a course I took and so was forced to check it out and I'd say it definitely helped. I liked that it was full of techniques and things for me to try and that it didn't just go into what to do in class but also spoke about how to set up discussions, get students ready for them etc. I can see now that a lot of what I tried before didn't work because my students weren't really ready for them. I'd say I've used about 50 % of the things I read about (some didn't really transfer for my classes) and mostly they worked pretty well. Along with getting students ready for discussion I liked the bits on making sure everyone has a chance to speak and on different types of questioning. The price is a bit high but if you're a teacher who uses discussion a lot and hasn't checked this out it's really worth looking at.
Rating: 
Summary: Hot air on an important topic
Review: The book covers some basic areas of teacher activity in a less than insightful way. It lists and orders good practice whilst avoiding any mention of what lies at its heart. Teachers have a part to play in developing democratic values but they are unlikely to find much help in this text. Those who are researching the phenomena will find even less.The authors do seem to like teaching and communicate a warm and kind feeling towards the situations, people and instruments they refer to. There is a wide collection of pretty predictable examples from social science and ethics classes, there is little mention of the use of discussion outside these areas. The idea of discussion versus non discussion teaching seems to be adequately adressed but the idea of democratic versus undemocratic teaching is largely unexplored. The book includes a lot of references to worthy practice which any teacher who has a clear idea of good teaching style will use everyday. There are sometimes some interesting points raised but they are just as soon lost in the recipe/list type approach which seems designed to trivalize every theme which is touched. The authors claim not to have written a gray utilitarian manual, I'm affraid they are deeply mistaken. There is still need for a serious, truly thoughful text on this theme.
<< 1 >>
|
