Discussion prompts may include: . Here are four important guidelines to communicate to your group. Your ground rules the issue of respecting everyone should address this issue, and it probably wont come upbut there are no guarantees. 6. Listen to each other. What is said in the group, stays in the group. "Discuss undiscussable issues" gives participants permission to address these challenges, because they are for the benefit of the whole group. Asking the contributor for further clarification and/or elaboration. 1. . Leading an effective group discussion takes preparation (if you have the opportunity for it), an understanding of and commitment to an open process, and a willingness to let go of your ego and biases. Ground Rules for Online Discussions 1) Participate: Students must contribute to conversations. is a detailed and engaging textbook and professional development resource presenting the key concepts in social justice education. Start on time . Respect for Group Members - Be quick to listen and slow to speak. 2. If the recorder is a group member, the group and/or leader should come up with a strategy that allows her to participate fully in the discussion. Mayer, B. Find out the kind of topics that are given at the institution or company you are applying for. 4. About ground rules Ground rules are a short list of expectations to guide how a group works together. Iowa State University of Science and Technology The following are ground rules that groups in previous classes have adopted after discussion. Create space in class for students to discuss in small groups. Facilitators are non-directive, and try to keep themselves out of the discussion, except to ask questions or make statements that advance it. As instructors, offer points for participating in conversations. Silence can be an indication of thought and process. Ground rules are a short list of expectations to guide how a group works together. Openly and honestly communicate with everyone. Build trust and a sense of safety among group participants. Treat participants with respect and consideration. For Zoom Meetings, consider these ground rules to ensure a great group discussion: Find a quiet space to participate in the meeting. "Let go of personal anecdotal evidence and look at broader societal patterns. A constant question that leaders and members of any group have is what to do about racist, sexist, or homophobic remarks, especially in a homogeneous group where most or all of the members except the leader may agree with them. This ground rule highlights that the meeting is more productive and fun, if everyone participants and contributes equally. Sometimes called 'ground rules,' community agreements, or participation norms (and there are several fuller examples below), such guidelines can be provided by an instructor or generated collaboratively with students. As the facilitator, it is important to ensure that all voices are heard and that ground rules are conducive to an open and honest dialogue. The first ground rule is to review each other's style of communication. In order to do so, it is important to consider the features of effective discussions, and conditions that promote small group interaction and engagement. A second strategy is to ask opinion questions occasionally (e.g., How do you feel about this?). Step back when a group is functional/functioning help participants become independent learners; take control of their learning. Undiscussable issues are those issues that are on everyones mind, but no one is able to bring them forwards. One is to state your opinion, but make very clear that its an opinion, not a fact, and that other people believe differently. Now, just to be clear: We are not saying that conflict is good per se. The important variable is that a traditional "rule" is . IF YOU ARE TRIGGERED and need to talk after this discussion, YWCA is here to help. (8th edition). << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> You might choose to lead a group discussion, or you might find yourself drafted for the task. Your performance is as good as your preparation. "Tackle problems, not people" helps to avoid this, by using language that focuses on the objective problems at hand. Discussion Ground Rules. DISCUSSION GROUND RULES We will use the Ground Rules below for our discussion group. Participate to the fullest of your ability community growth depends on the inclusion of every individual voice. Question first Participants should read and review our Ground Rules prior to the sessions. Group discussions are common in a democratic society, and, as a community builder, its more than likely that you have been and will continue to be involved in many of them. Discussion is a powerful mechanism for active learning; a well-facilitated discussion allows the participant to explore new ideas while recognizing and valuing the contributions of others. Group and Organizational Studies, vol. Respect your spouse's privacy - During your Group . Create an inclusive environment. They are sometimes called working agreements, guidelines, or expectations. Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI), Clarke University Tips for Managing Conflict, UC Berkeley Resolving Conflict Situations, Group Dynamics for Teams by Daniel Levi, Chapter 7: Managing Conflict, TeacherVision: Conflict Resolution Activities, Conflict Resolution Activities: Effective Ideas for Classrooms, KidsHealth in the Classroom: Conflict Resolution, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Activities, The Big Book of Conflict Resolution Games: Quick, Effective Activities to Improve Communication, Trust, and Collaboration, Conflict Management Exercises and Activities to Use With Your Team, Sesame Street: Helping Kids Resolve Conflicts, Conflict Resolution: Using the Interest-Based Relational Approach. Ground rules help a group start and maintain a productive discussion. No one wants to find out he or she has been the subject of gossip or well-meaning "prayer discussions." This is probably the most important ground rule of all. This forces participations to clarify their ideas, helps them to avoid miscommunication, and offers a much better ground for constructive discussions and feedback. Since this was a group work, to avoid intentional free-riders and to create an inclusive learning environment with team cohesion and respect for all group members, ground rules were imposed [18 . Perhaps assigning the avid talker to the observer role would help the person develop sensitivity. Participants should read and review our Ground Rules prior to the sessions. Generate an agenda or goals for the session. Report Glitches: Discussion forums are electronic. Remind everyone to be aware of time, and to make their points succinctly so everyone has the chance to share. Ground rules clarify expectations for behavior in the meeting. A combination of initiating and probing questions can be an effective approach to bring out participants ideas further. Who will take notes, record important points, questions for further discussion, areas of agreement or disagreement? San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2000. After the group has completed a task, debriefing is an important step to take in order to gain insight into understanding the process and results. Services. The facilitator might say, What Im saying is, but now I'd like you to share your perspective. Turning the question back to the questioner forces him or her to take responsibility for his or her opinion. Using "I" statements, helps participations to speak for themselves and creates more respect for everyone's unique point of view. _____________________________, Library Book Discussion Series, Fall2021. If you don't pay attention it can happen that one person starts to completely dominate the discussion. (The exceptions are opinions or ideas that are discriminatory or downright false.) Invite inquiry into your views. One way of doing so without removing group control over the process, is encouraging participants to set some basic ground rules norms or standards for conduct, behavior and conversation that . Everyone gets a turn. They should be discussed and agreed upon by the group members. Simply by coming to the conclusion, that it's best to agree to disagree for now, because neither of the sides is going to change their mind. The complete guide to facilitation. Explain the topic. When the group numbers eight or more, a leader or facilitator, whether formal or informal, is almost always helpful in ensuring an effective discussion. An effective discussion group depends on a leader or facilitator who can guide it through an open process the group chooses what its discussing, if not already determined, discusses it with no expectation of particular conclusions, encourages civil disagreement and argument, and makes sure that every member is included and no one dominates. Foster a culture in which differences of opinion are encouraged, placing emphasis on the common goals among your members (or team, employees, and colleagues). Feedback could be positive, negative, or merely clarifying or correcting factual questions or errors, but is in all cases delivered respectfully. S E=dHv>X:)GG8" Other ways to handle these situations include: Confrontation - Facilitators can confront the questioner with their reactions to his or her behavior. We will use theGround Rules below for our discussion group. The more people zone out of a meeting, the quality of the meeting and its output will diminish rapidly. Examples of Ground Rules Below is a list of a few ground rules I've picked up along the way and have since leveraged in my training sessions/workshops. Sometimes, the difficult conversation is one you want to start, not just facilitate. What's said at group stays at group. Ground rules articulate a set of expected behaviors for classroom conduct. Establishing this as a ground rule highlights that participants can suggest on their own when to place something on the parking lot in order to keep the meeting on track and on time. Involve students in the creation of guidelines. How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Discussing Race. Ground Rules What are ground rules? Start on timeand end on time. The more tangible ideas are, the easier it is to discuss them. So lets make sure we are listening 100 percent. It emphasizes process (the consideration of ideas) over product (specific tasks to be accomplished within the confines of the meeting itself. xx In other words, you need to agree on certain ground rules and promise to honor and respect everyones thoughts, ideas and opinions for the duration of each session. Another is to ask to hold your opinion until the end of the discussion, so as not to influence anyones thinking while its going on. Often people do this unconsciously because they feel that the meeting isn't relevant for them."Be present, or be elsewhere" is a good meeting guidelines to establish shared awareness and clear expectations one participants. Increase participation and the sharing of ideas and perspectives; Promote openness to points of view and increase learning; Manage problems before and as they occur; and. When participants argue for the sake of argument, facilitators will usually lose if they take the bait. In most group discussions, leaders who are relatively non-directive make for a more broad-ranging outlay of ideas, and a more satisfying experience for participants. If you are unsure of their meaning, ask for clarification. Group members can receive and respond to respectful but honest and constructive feedback. The discussion stays focused on the issue at hand. Suggestions for Leading Small-Group Discussions, prepared by Lee Haugen, Center for Teaching Excellence, Iowa State University, 1998. Avoid interrupting or having side conversations. Certain group ground rules are strongly suggested. 1. A group of two or three generally doesn't need a leader to have a good discussion, but once the number reaches five or six, a leader or facilitator can often be helpful. Fact sheet. Then she has to guide the discussion, being careful to promote an open process; involve everyone and let no one dominate; attend to the personal issues and needs of individual group members when they affect the group; summarize or clarify when appropriate; ask questions to keep the discussion moving, and put aside her own agenda, ego, and biases. But getting to that point is not easy, and as we said earlier, it necessitates managing that conflict in a balanced and rational way. Odd ideas often turn out to be correct, and shouldnt be stifled. Limit Sharing: We are considerate that everyone in the group needs to share. All rights reserved. There are always a mix of extrovert and introverted people in a meeting. Provide opportunities for participants to pair-share. You can express your strong disagreement or discomfort with such remarks and leave it at that, or follow up with Lets talk about it after the group, which could generate some real discussion about prejudice and stereotypes, and actually change some thinking over time. Speak from the I perspective: Avoid speaking for others by using we, us, or them.. Section 4. 6. This is the new edition of the award-winning guide to social justice education. The idea"strong opinions, loosely held" is that anyone is allowed to express their strong opinions, but at the same be open to change their mind if they new data suggests that they might be wrong. (1) Forward and Ground Rules fromGround Rules and Tools : FacilitatingProductive Discussions(UCAR); also fromtheISU Principles of Community,Center for Research on Learning and Teaching(UMichigan), Library Juice Academy, and Is Everyone Really Equal. Some facilitators keep discussions on track by listing the questions or issues they want to cover on the board or summarizing the discussion on the board as it proceeds. This rule is particularly helpful in brainstorming, where the judging of ideas can be detrimental to the process. Think of the meetings you have participated in over the past year. Good listening requires concentration and attention. Come to the meeting with a positive attitude. 1. Each session will be a facilitated discussion of selected chapters, led by a member of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. 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