Group Discussion

Group discussion is a method of teaching whereby learners get together to exchange

information, feelings, and opinions with each other and the teacher. The group will have
more than two people discuss a topic given in an allotted time. This activity is learnercentered and subject-centered.
There are numerous advantages for using group discussion as a teaching method. The
advantages are the following:
It stimulates learners to think about issues and problems and exchange their own
experiences, thereby making learning more active.
It provides opportunities for sharing of ideas, receiving peer support, fostering a
feeling of belonging, giving guidance and reinforcing previous learning.
Group discussion method is economically beneficial from a time-efficiency
perspective. Teaching people in groups rather than individually allows the teacher to
reach a number of learners at the same time.
It has proved particularly helpful to patients and families dealing with chronic illness.
It is most effective during accommodation stage of psychological adjustment to
chronic illness because the interactions help reduce isolation and foster identification
with others who are in similar circumstances.
Despite the great advantages of group discussions, there are also disadvantages and these are
the following:
One member of the group can dominate the discussion.
It is easy to digress from the topic.
Shy learners may refuse to become involved or may need a great deal of encouragement
to participate.
It requires skill of the teacher to tactfully redirect learners who digress or dominate the
discussion without losing their trust and that of the other group members.
It is particularly challenging for the novice teacher when group members do not interact
easily.
It requires the teacher's presence at all sessions to act as a facilitator and resource person.
Dos
All group members must participate. Give equal time for each person to speak. A patient
listener is one way of giving appreciation.
Stay on task. Do not allow conversations that are unrelated to the task at hand.
Be assertive yet humble. It is alright for a member to stick to his/her beliefs and values
but he/she must respect the opinions of others too.
Think well before you speak. You are being heard and judged upon.

 Be analytical and fact-oriented. It is necessary for making relevant points which can be
supported with facts and analyzed logically.
Be an active and dynamic participant.
Talk with confidence.
When raising an objection to a point kept by another speaker, back it up with a solid
reason to get the point across.
Don'ts:
Dont be shy and isolated from the group discussion.
Dont interrupt a participant before arguments are over.
Dont make fun of a participant.
Dont repeat or use irrelevant materials.
Dont get upset when criticized.