Talking in Class: Using Discussion to Enhance Teaching and Learning

Talking in Class: Using Discussion to Enhance Teaching and Learning Larry R. Johannessen Associate Professor Department of English Telephone: (815) 753-6601 1425 W. Lincoln Highway Fax: (815) 753-0606 Northern Illinois University e-mail: ljohann@niu.edu DeKalk, Illinois 60115 for 96th Annual Convention: National Council of Teachers of English Nashville, Tennessee, November 16-19, 2006 Session D.39: Friday, November 17, 2006, 2:30-3:45 p.m., Talking in Class: Using Discussion to Enhance Teaching and Learning

Authentic Discussion in Classrooms: A Quiz Directions: Based on recent research (Nystrand, et al., 1997), how much authentic discussion do you think takes place on average in classrooms in America? 1. How much discussion takes place on average in 8 th grade classrooms per class period? a) a little over 15 minutes; b) about 6 minutes; c) less than 15 seconds; d) about 50 seconds. 2. How much small-group work (discussion) takes place on average in 8 th grade classrooms per class period? a) about 30 seconds; b) less than 15 seconds; c) about 6 minutes; d) a little over 15 minutes. 3. How much discussion takes place on average in 9th grade classrooms per class period? a) a little over 17 minutes; b) about 7 minutes; c) less than 15 seconds; d) about 1 minute. 4. How much small-group work (discussion) takes place on average in 9th grade classrooms per class period? a) a little over 2 minutes; b) less than 15 seconds; c) about 7 minutes; d) a little over 17 minutes.

Authentic Discussion in Classrooms: A Quiz Answers 1. d. about 50 seconds. 2. a. about 30 seconds. 3. c. less than 15 seconds. 4. a. a little over 2 minutes.

Discussion rarely occurs (Nystrand, 1997; Crystoph and Nystrand, 2001). Discussion is important (Applebee, 1996; Nussbaum, 1997; Graff, 1993; Meier, 1995; Hillocks, 1999). Discussion is tied to achievement (Nystrand, 1997; Applebee, Langer, Nystrand, Gamoran, 2003). Discussion is especially important for language minority students (Padron, Waxman & Rivera, 2003; Freeman, Freeman, & Mercuri, 2002, 2003). Facilitating discussion appears easy. Facilitating discussion involves skills that require practice and development McCann, Johannessen, Flanagan, & Kahn, 2006).

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