Students will be far more motivated to contribute to the discussion when they have helped to establish the content of the discussion. The discussion has a specific starting point, a task to accomplish, and an ending move. These factors give it both focus and structure, though of course the instructor can certainly allow room for moves in different directions. Disadvantages of the Consensus-Discussion Model As with any teaching technique, do not overuse it. Vary the format of your discussions by using small groups, by occasionally allowing for less structured conversations, by dividing up the class for mock debates, or by letting students try their hand at leading the discussion.
Some professors worry about the possibility of imposing consensus on their students.
In truth, discussion classes very rarely reach consensus. Give me some practical examples of this model in use. Give me another example of the model. No analysis is necessary-just recollections and brief descriptions. As each student reports, the collective images are listed on the board, thus providing a visual record of selected content from the text as a backdrop to the following discussion . . .