Education For Judgment

The Artistry of Discussion Leadership

Plot

Discussion teaching - the foundation of the Harvard Business School's renowned case method of instruction - is a powerful tool for developing skills as well as conveying knowledge. The contributors maintain that the elements of teaching can be identified and consciously practiced. The essays describe the building blocks of group leadership, negotiating a "contract" governing the conduct of the group, orchestrating a constructive process of questioning, listening and responding, ways of encouraging independent thinking, and guiding participants towards useful roles in the interaction with one another. Other chapters in the volume take a broader, more philosophical view of discussion leadership. They cover the ethical considerations of discussion teaching, the special challenges of teaching technical material using this method and a participative mode of medical education.