Would you like to improve classroom discussions to better engage students and help them learn your course content and skills?
The Discussion Project supports UW–Madison instructors in designing and implementing high quality discussions for classes of 40 or fewer students.
Applications are now open for two new course sessions: an in-person series in January, and an online series starting either in late January or early March 2022. Both courses are free and open to all UW–Madison instructors (faculty, academic staff, and graduate students).
The in-person version of the course consists of three days of learn-by-doing instruction. While its focus is on designing and implementing in-person discussion, many of the skills also apply to online classroom discussion. Apply for The Discussion Project in-person course.
The online version of the course consists of seven, two-hour, interactive synchronous sessions via Zoom, each preceded by an hour of asynchronous work. It focuses on synchronous video conference discussion (rather than discussion boards) and the skills help with both online discussion and in-person discussion design and facilitation. Apply for The Discussion Project online course.
Brandon Bloch, an assistant professor of history at UW–Madison, says he strongly recommends The Discussion Project for UW–Madison instructors who want to integrate more discussion into their courses but aren’t sure how to go about doing it. He says the course, “not only offers practical strategies that can be implemented immediately in the classroom, but access to a network of colleagues across campus who are passionate about teaching and learning.”
Bloch adds: “I left with a much firmer understanding of why discussion is important, and how to foster a classroom community that celebrates the voices of all students.”
The Discussion Project is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, campus funds, and donors to the UW–Madison School of Education. It operates within the Wisconsin Center for Education Research, which is housed within the School of Education. Dean Diana Hess is the project’s principal investigator.