Science Writing and New Media: Communicating Science to the Public

Tips for Leading Discussions

Preparation	Set clear roles (e.g. which partner will begin/end the discussion) Bring your own notes and responses for helpful reference Introduce yourselves at the start of the discussion Clearly establish the focus of the conversation
Thoughtful Questions	Offer thought provoking questions that engage colleagues Use follow-up questions to develop an organic discussion Speak directly to your classmates (not the instructor) Try your best to engage all of your classmates Give your classmates “thinking time” after asking a question
Facilitation	Make eye contact with those around you Paraphrase your own questions for further clarification, if needed Listen actively and react to the words spoken by your classmates Know when to “get out of the way” to let your classmates converse Be ready to go “off script” when classmates head in a new direction Be explicit when shifting the focus of the conversation