Discussion as a Way of Teaching

The Authors Stephen D. Brookfield is Distinguished University Professor at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. A prolific writer, he is a three-time winner of the Cyril O. Houle Award for Literature in Adult Education for Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning, Developing Critical Thinkers, and Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher all from Jossey-Bass. He is also the author of The Power of Critical Theory. Stephen Preskill is Regents Professor of Education in the Department of Educational Leadership and Organizational Learning in the College of Education at the University of New Mexico. He has written extensively on the history of educational reform, the connections ­between education and democracy, and the role leaders and activists have played historically in fostering meaningful change.

• Preface to Second Edition. Preface to the First Edition.Gratitudes.The Authors.1. Discussion in a Democratic Society.2. How Discussion Helps Learning and Enlivens Classrooms.3. Preparing for Discussion.4. Getting Discussion Started.5. Keeping Discussion Going Through Questioning, Listening, and Responding.6. Keeping Discussion Going Through Creative Grouping.7. Discussion in Culturally Diverse Classrooms.8. Discussing Across Gender Differences (Written with Eleni Roulis).9. Keeping Students’ Voices in Balance.10. Keeping Teachers’ Voices in Balance.11. Understanding the Dynamics of Online Discussion.12. Creating the Conditions for Online Discussion.13. How Theory Can Inform Discussion Practice.14. Discussion Groups as Democratic Learning Laboratories.15. Evaluating Discussion.References.Index.