Early in the semester students may not be very comfortable voicing their opinions and may need encouragement to contribute to discussions. It is a good idea to start with questions on assigned reading so that every student feels familiar with the subject being discussed. Giving students the discussion questions in advance also encourages participation and preparation. Dividing the class into smaller groups ensures that even shy students have a chance to talk. Establish a set of objectives for yourself while planning discussion strategies.
Discussion needs to be planned.
It is a good idea to keep an outline in mind so that you can cover topics that need to be discussed but have not surfaced in student-directed discussion. The enthusiasm of the students affects the way the discussion runs in class. To make students feel comfortable speaking to the class, learn their names and allow them to know each other in class. Speaking in front of a familiar audience is less daunting. If you have access to group email for your class, encourage the students to use email to discuss readings done for class.