How to create successful discussions in science classrooms

Professors often expect students to have the skills that are necessary to participate in discussions. Students, on the other hand, have been trained to glean information from the lecture format; their prior experiences in discussions are likely to be limited to personal opinions on topics such as stem-cell research or evolution. Sudden changes in expectations are jarring and unwelcome at any stage of life but especially when it affects our performance. Thus, bringing any new pedagogy into the classroom has to come with proper preparation for both the students and the faculty. Here, I present my guidelines for bringing discussions into small classrooms. A great deal of structure and preparation are needed to make a discussion-based class successful. To teach using a discussion-based format requires creating pedagogical links to every aspect of the course. It requires changing not only what we teach but also what we value. Various components that are needed for a successful discussion-based course are outlined here.