Group discussions are essential for effective learning at university. Participation in group discussion has the following benefits:

• Improves communication skills
• Increases motivation and confidence
• Provides an opportunity for critical thinking
• Generates good question for discussion
• Further improves or develops studying approach or technique
• Provides deeper understanding of the topic as peers have different opinions and perspectives
• Shows student’s weakness
• Corrects student’s mistake
• Develops leadership skills

When chairing a discussion group, you can use leadership skills to influence positively the speakers and help your group achieve its purposes. These skills include:

• Introducing yourself and the other speakers
• Introducing the topic and purpose of the discussion
• Asking questions to stimulate the discussion
• Making sure no one dominates the discussion by inviting and encouraging contributions from all students
• Ensuring only one member of the group speaks at a time
• Ensuring the discussion remains relevant and doesn't drift off topic
• Summarizing or rephrasing a speaker's point and the discussion at the end

How to chair a discussion
Introductions	Introduce yourself and peers Greet the audience “Good morning/Good afternoon, everyone.
Introduce the topic of discussion	Today, we’re going to discuss… Today, we’re going to talk about… The aim of this discussion is to find out… Let’s start discussing about… Let’s start the discussion on…
Initiating discussion and stating an opinion or idea	Can I make a point first? Any suggestions? In my opinion… I reckon that… Wouldn’t you say that… I think it’s best if we start our discussion by trying to answer the question… It would seem to me that…
Inviting passive members to speak	_________, do you think the idea will work? Would you care to comment? Do you think X or Y is correct? Do you agree with this idea?

The following are a few ground rules for good discussion behavior.

• Check the classroom environment and equipment available for use.
• Have a clear structure for the presentation, with an introduction, body and conclusion.
• Avoid reading directly from notes.
• Maintain good eye contact with peers and teacher.
• Demonstrate confidence with poised body language.
• Speak in a loud voice with varying use of stress and intonation to engage the audience.
• Practice presenting in front of peers to gain critical feedback.
• Prepare questions which may be asked following the presentation

How to chair a discussion

Head facing upwards Direct eye contact Balanced posture Pleasant facial expression Relaxed and competent manner Smiling Firm speech at a steady pace

The type of learner you are can have a significant influence in your learning experiences. The table below lists the categories and its features. Go through the list and see which category learner you are and which you strive to become.

Category	Features
Talkative and Enthusiastic	Very confident to speak in front of others Do not hesitate to speak up in class Very enthusiastic in class discussions Talk often, offering positive comments and ideas Sometimes interrupt others because you have a good idea you want to share Bring up comments that are not related to discussion If the tutor doesn’t control you – talk more and more
Thoughtful	Listen carefully and attentively to the proposed ideas Make comments that are directly related to the discussion Have your own opinions regarding discussion Acknowledge other ideas immediately even if you are in disagreement Stop talking if anyone interrupts you
Leader	Treat others with respect and consideration Confident in your language abilities to lead a discussion Talkative and enthusiastic Able to involve all participants to participate in discussion
Follower	Do not have a personal opinion on the topic of discussion Comments are always in agreement with others If an opposing idea is presented and the discussion changes direction, agree with the new idea too Only offer your own opinion if a tutor encourages you
Silent	Listen attentively to the discussion but never contribute comments You hesitate to contribute even when asked to
Withdrawn	Do not take interest in class activities and discussions Do not contribute personal ideas or participate in discussions
Pessimist	Actively participate in the discussion Always focus on the negative things in the discussion You may acknowledge others ideas but tend to always find fault in others ideas

Where a student chooses to sit may influence their concentration and ability to listen and attain information. Research has shown that seating arrangements greatly impacts a student’s learning ability. Studies have shown that students sitting in the front and centre sections of the classroom are more motivated and have achieved higher academic results.

Seating Arrangements
Front	Better vision of teacher and teaching material/whiteboard Better hearing of what is said by the instructor Greater eye contact with instructor that may increase you sense of responsibility to listen and take notes May feel less nervous when asking questions as there will be no one staring in front of you Increases the likelihood that your instructor will know who you are
Centre	Good vicinity of the instructor and materials Suitable for talkative and outgoing students who engage in a lot of classroom discussion
Back	Furthest away from instructor and material Most distractions apparent (distance to instructor, laptops, peers)

So when you step into a classroom, make a conscious decision on where you want to sit that can maximise your learning ability.

Listed below are actions that you should or should not do in group discussion. For each action, select whether it belong to the ‘do’ or ‘don’t’ category.