Category Archives: Perspectives
Student-Centered Discussion: Providing Structured Space for Critical Thinking
When many faculty hear the term “student-centered discussion,” they imagine students leading a “discussion” that is really just a bull session. In fact, this is typically the sort of discussion that happens when faculty allocate small-group discussion time in their classes. Faculty will provide students with one or more questions to discuss, and students will Read more »
Also posted in Education Tagged Classroom Discussions, developing questions, educational implications, higher education, reasoning skills, student-centered discussion Leave a comment
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Recruiting for Public Discussions: Use Groups, Don’t Create Them
It’s time to declare individual recruiting a dead-end approach. The results of upwards of 60 IF public discussions are clear: group-based recruiting is superior. Whether thought of in terms of “’efficiency” or “sustainability,” its advantages over individual recruiting are now patently obvious—or whatever is more obvious than that. It’s time we stop trying to create Read more »
Posted in Perspectives Tagged challenges, conversations, participation, Public Discussions, recruiting Leave a comment
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Exploration, Development, and Debate
One of the primary tasks of an IF facilitator is to ensure that his panels’ discussions keep to the task of exploring and developing possibilities, and do not degenerate into debates. But isn’t debating the validity and utility of ideas a way of exploring their differences? Doesn’t it help us to recognize the weaknesses of Read more »
Posted in Perspectives Tagged discussion process, facilitation, reasoning skills Leave a comment
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Practical Tips for Citizen Discussion of Possibilities: Part III-Managing and Wrapping Up a Discussion
Two previous installments in this practical tips series have attempted to glean wisdom from the facilitators who have led dozens of discussions on IF reports. We have looked at some of the issues involved in putting behinds in the seats and jump-starting conceptual discussion of the possibilities in our reports as key areas to focus Read more »
Posted in Perspectives Tagged citizen discussions, conceptual possibilities, discussion process, facilitation, Public Discussions Leave a comment
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Lessons from Citizens Concerning “Starting Points” in Discussion
IF conducts projects that result in reports containing contrasting policy possibilities so that others may have the benefit of “starting points” in their own discussions of policy areas. Presumably, a helpful report could assist other citizens in getting an initial sense of the breadth of a topic, could suggest some of the significant questions that Read more »
Posted in Perspectives Tagged citizen discussions, Discussion Reports, Public Discussions Leave a comment
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Practical Tips for Citizen Discussion of Possibilities: Part II- Starting the Discussion
In my previous installment on practical tips I looked at recruitment of citizen groups. The who, what, and where of that first step of gathering the bodies exerts considerable influence on how you might want to initiate discussion of policy possibilities.
We will start with the assumption that you want to engage the participants, make the Read more »
Posted in Perspectives Tagged citizen discussions, facilitation, Public Discussions Leave a comment
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Picking at the Glue and Possibilities for Innovation
In his novel So Yesterday, Scott Westerfeld explores questions about innovation, about how the new can come into society, and about how the next cool thing can become yesterday’s news in the steady advance of consumer culture. The book deals mostly with fashion and the role of Innovators, Trendsetters, and Early Adopters, those who invent Read more »
What Is the Difference Between Conceptual and Practical Policy Possibilities?
In our sanctuary projects we ask our panelists to develop contrasting conceptual policy possibilities pertaining to their areas of concern, and to then explore the practical policy possibilities that might flow from them if they were actually adopted as public policy. A policy possibility is a plan, or a strategy, or an approach that we Read more »
Posted in Perspectives Tagged conceptual possibilities, contrasting possibilities, Project Discussions Leave a comment
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Some Thoughts on Recruiting Panels for the Best Contrast of Possibilities
The current tendency within IF is to recruit at least the generalist panels via Public (or “Citizen”) Discussions. Those of us who use Meetup to recruit Citizen Discussion participants have a greater chance of connecting with a broader public. We are not limited to our direct friends or acquaintances or to the slightly broader network Read more »
Posted in Perspectives Tagged attitude, citizen discussions, Project Discussions, Public Discussions, recruiting Leave a comment
What Roles Do “Specialists” Play in IF Project Discussions?
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