Discussion guidelines

Fall 2005

 

Discussion Guidelines Taskforce – Maya Eilam, Amanda Gerson, Jennifer Salston, Sharlene Sanidad, and Catherine Soban

 

 

  1. Respect individual confidentiality – this should be a safe place for people to discuss viewpoints and personal experiences.
  2. Speak clearly and loudly – your classmates cannot learn from your brilliance if they cannot hear you.
  3. Be open and respectful to others’ personal experiences and viewpoints.   No putdowns!
  4. Speak for yourself.  Don’t assume you can speak for others.
  5. Do not interrupt.
  6. Do not hog conversations – everyone should get a chance to speak.  If you feel you are not being heard, let the class know.
  7. Be brief and to the point when speaking.
  8. Allow for constructive criticism – include good comments with disagreements or criticism.
  9. Don’t overlook the impact of positive feedback to your classmates – if you think someone said something brilliant, let them know!
  10. Don’t be afraid to share your own opinion even if it is different from the rest of the class.  Different perspectives lead to interesting discussions and learning.
  11. If someone is offended by a discussion, they may stop the conversation for discussion into what offended them, or talk to the professor after the class depending on their comfort level.  The class should be sensitive to both the person doing the “offending” (since the offense was probably not intentional) as well as the person who was offended.
  12. If the class goes off on a tangent, anyone can stop the discussion to point it out and allow the class to vote on whether or not the discussion should continue or if it should be brought to a close and get back on topic.  The SOCS discussion board can be used for further discussion on a topic.
  13. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own ignorance and mis-/preconceptions for confrontation into discussion.  If brought up appropriately and respectfully, it can be a learning experience for the whole class.
  14. Ask for clarification when necessary when either the professor or one of your classmates is talking.  Don’t make assumptions about who people are or what they mean.  Respectfully ask for clarification.
  15. The professor should welcome all ideas equally and be open to dissenting opinions.
  16. Attempt to sit in a different seat every class period.
  17. Agree to disagree – the point is not to convince others of your opinion, but to learn from everyone’s viewpoints.