As students talk about topics in the classroom, they rely on past knowledge and make connections to their experiences moving information between working memory and long-term memory. Discussions provide ways for students to hear about content from their peers in new ways. Student dialogue additionally can benefit English Language Learners, learners who struggle with the content, and learners who have literacy deficits.

Even John Hattie was surprised at the .8 effect size of student discussions. That is a strategy packing almost two years of growth in one year of learning!

One of my favorite reports on engagement is from the perspective of students. One topic that threads throughout the entire paper is peer connection and its importance to feeling motivated and engaged in the classroom. One particular student who identified himself as disengaged noted:

“If I don’t get some interaction [with

peers] throughout the lesson, I’m not going to pay

attention to the teacher just talking.”

I'm pretty sure you recognize this fact or you wouldn't be here. Discussions have to have purpose and planning; however, poorly planned discussions without proper setup and resources can lead to frustrated teachers and students, not to mention flat, lifeless discussions. Let's dig into some of the foundations that can lead to engaging (and fun!) discussions.

Resources I recommend checking out:

The "Silent Epidemic" Finds Its Voice: Demystifying How Students View Engagement in Their Learning. Research Report. ERIC.Ed.gov.

Visible Learning Meta"x