Discussion as a Way of Teaching: Tools and Techniques for Democratic Classrooms

Thoroughly revised and updated, the second edition of the landmark book Discussion as a Way of Teaching shows how to plan, conduct, and assess classroom discussions. Stephen D. Brookfield and Stephen Preskill suggest exercises for starting discussions, strategies for maintaining their momentum, and ways to elicit diverse views and voices. The book also includes new exercises and material on the intersections between discussion and the encouragement of democracy in the classroom. This revised edition expands on the original and contains information on adapting discussion methods in online teaching, on using discussion to enhance democratic participation, and on the theoretical foundations for the discussion exercises described in the book.   

Throughout the book, Brookfield and Preskill clearly show how discussion can enliven classrooms, and they outline practical methods for ensuring that students will come to class prepared to discuss a topic. They also explain how to balance the voices of students and teachers, while still preserving the moral, political, and pedagogic integrity of discussion.

• The Discussion Book: 50 Great Ways to Get People Talking
• Enhancing Adult Motivation to Learn: A Comprehensive Guide for Teaching All Adults
• Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning
• Teaching for Critical Thinking: Tools and Techniques to Help Students Question Their Assumptions
• Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher
• Adult Learning: Linking Theory and Practice
• What the Best College Teachers Do
• The Skillful Teacher: On Technique, Trust, and Responsiveness in the Classroom
• Student Engagement Techniques: A Handbook for College Faculty
• Discussion in the College Classroom: Getting Your Students Engaged and Participating in Person and Online