Your classes are the main chance you have to consolidate your understanding of course themes and share your thinking about course materials with your peers. Communicating your ideas is a hugely important part of this process because the more you think about what you put “in” the more you will get “out” of classes.
Here are some tips for making effective contributions to class discussions.
Engaging discussion
Contributing to class discussions isn’t always easy, even when you are well prepared. A lot of students tend to worry about not having the “right” answer (hint: there is very rarely one “right” answer), and this can cause a great deal of nervousness and anxiety. Try to remember that you don’t need to wait for a Eureka moment of “ultimate clarity” before pitching in. Sharing responsibility for class discussions as a whole class is also crucial; don’t let others take on too much of the talking on their own, and be prepared to invite your peers into discussion where appropriate. Remember always to be encouraging and positive about your peers’ perspectives. Acknowledge or agree with other students’ views but be prepared to (respectfully) adopt another position, perhaps by asking a question…
Disagreeing
Some level of disagreement tends to show a healthy level of debate. Certainly, though, some arguments can get heated or touch on sensitive issues. Try to remember that it is always ideas that should be challenged, rather than the person articulating them. If class discussion does become more heated, think about the way you might acknowledge or agree with parts of your peers’ ideas and arguments to help find common ground and diffuse the situation.
Taking notes and staying involved in discussions
Getting information or ideas noted while staying involved in class discussions is tricky. Sometimes, you may need to delay making up notes until after class. If you are going to make notes, try to keep them concise and maybe jot them down as follow up questions for further exploration later on. You might instead try to make a diagram or mind map of the flow of the class discussion, or just use key terms and phrases to pin down the important material.
Further resources
Participating and presenting in classes and seminars| – advice from Dr Neil McLean in LSE’s Teaching and Learning Centre (PPT)