In group discussions, people exchange and evaluate ideas and information in order to better understand a subject or to solve a problem. It is an active and dynamic experience in which all members of the group interact and listen to each other.
We participate in them all the time. In today’s world, we often get together to share information, solve a common problem, or present a variety of different viewpoints to an audience.
Brainstorming
It is an important technique that you will need to use when discussing a problem and trying to figure out ways to solve it. It can help you produce many ideas for the group to consider. Once you have lots of ideas, you can later narrow down the list and choose the best ones. Most of the steps in the path to successful problem solving will involve brainstorming. As you brainstorm, follow these guidelines:
- Choose a group member to write your topic on the blackboard, flip chart, or piece of paper. This person will write in list form all the ideas the group produces.
- Think of as many ideas as you can. Anyone may contribute ideas at ay time. The more ideas, the better.
- Say anything about the topic that pops into your head. Don’t worry if it seems ridiculous or silly.
- Do not criticize or evaluate ideas at this point. Even a “bad” idea may provoke a better one form someone else.
- Remember: The more ideas, the better. Everyone in the group should participate.
It’s very important to remember that everyone must feel free to contribute as many ideas as they can think of. Do not criticize anyone’s ideas during this brainstorming process by saying thins like, “That will never work,” or “Forget that idea. It’s silly,” etc.
Evaluating the ideas
When you ca think of no more ideas, it is time to evaluate the ideas the group has produced and choose the best ones. Start by eliminating the ideas that are the least popular. The best way to do this is:
- Group members read through the entire list of ideas generated by the brainstorming session.
- Each member approaches the blackboard or flip chart and puts a checkmark next to two of their favorite ideas.
- A person designated to be the group recorder will cross out all ideas that have received no checkmarks.
- Group members then begin the process of evaluating the remaining ideas.
Activity 1: Successful Brainstorming
Work with 4 or 5 classmates and follow the direction below.
1. Read the following situations and choose one.
- Two sisters, Jane and Susan, were invited to their friend Ann’s party. They accepted the invitation even though they really didn’t want to go. They didn’t go to the party. The next day, Ann wanted to know why they didn’t show up. They had trouble thinking of a good reason they could give her for not going.
- Harry is always asking his friend Sergio to loan him money, He often forgets to pay back what he owes. Sergio can never think of an excuse not to loan him money.
2. Brainstorm explanations that Jane and Susan can give Ann for not attending her party or excuses that Sergio can give Harry for not loaning him money. Use your imagination, and be as silly as you like thinking of reasons. Try to think of a minimum of fifteen ideas.
3. Choose someone to write down everyone’s ideas in list form.
4. When all the groups have finished, share your ideas with the class. Discuss the advantages or disadvantages of each excuse.
Path to successful problem solving for group discussions
A successful group discussion is one that accomplishes objectives and improves a situation. Frequently, its purpose is to solve a problem. However, many discussions are not productive because the participants wander aimlessly from point to point without any plan. In order to have a successful group discussion, it is essential to have a logical and organized plan.
The following path to successful problem solving will help you organize a group discussion into a logical sequence of events so that all participants can find one or more solutions to a problem.
Step 1: Identify a Problem
Choose a problem that interests all participants. The discussion will be much livelier if all group members feel personally involved and committed to solving the problem.
Step 2: Prove the Problem Exists
Present evidence that your group’s problem truly exists.
-Find statistics.
-Refer to your own personal experiences or the experiences of people you know.
-Quote expert sources.
- Give specific incidences of the problem that have been reported in the news.
Step 3: Explain the Causes of the Problem
-Your research and readings can help you discover this information.
- Personal opinions are also valuable, and brainstorming can be a useful way to facilitate an exchange of ideas.
Step 4: Predict Possible Future Effects of the Problem
Predict what is likely to happen if the problem is not addressed.
-Explain how people or society in general might be affected.
-Again, share the results of your research as well as personal opinions.
Step 5: Present Possible Solutions to the Problem
Brainstorm ways this problem might be solved.
-Present suggestions made by authorities and concerned individuals.
-Give your opinions about how to solve the problem.
Step 6: Select the Best Solutions
- Ask the following questions as you discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each proposed solution.
- Will this solution eliminate one or more of the causes of the problem?
- Will this solution eliminate the predicted future effects of the problem?
- Will this solution create more problems?
- Select the best solution (s). Remember: While some solutions may not be perfect, they might still be the best solutions to the problem.
Path to being a successful group leader
- Introduce the Participants
- State the Problem to Be Discussed
- Make Sure the Organizational Plan Is Followed
- Encourage All Group Members to Participate
- Provide Transitions Between Each Step
- Bring the Discussion to a Close
- Thank the Participants
Path to Being a Responsible Group Member
- Be Prepared with Evidence
- Make a Sufficient Number of Contributions
- Don’t Monopolize the Discussion
- Be Open-Minded
- Pay Close Attention to Other Participants’ Contributions
- Refer to All Participants by Name
Activity 2: Have a group discussion on a topic of your choice
- In small groups, choose a leader.
- Choose a specific problem that interests all group members and can be researched easily.
- On your own, research the problem.
- Complete as much of the Group Discussion Worksheet.
- Using the steps, discuss the problem and write any additional information on your Worksheet.
Name:_______________________________________________________
GROUP DISCUSSION WORKSHEET
- Identify a problem that interests all group members.
_______________________________________________________________
- Summarize proof that the problem exists.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Explain the causes of the problem.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Predict possible future effects of the problem.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Present possible solutions to the problem.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Determine advantages and disadvantages of each solution.
Solution A: ______________________________________________________
Advantages:________________________________________________
Disadvantages:______________________________________________
Solution B: ______________________________________________________
Advantages:________________________________________________
Disadvantages:______________________________________________
Solution C:______________________________________________________
Advantages:________________________________________________
Disadvantages:______________________________________________
- Select the best solutions.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name __________________________________________________________
GROUP LEADER WORKSHEET
- Prepare the introduction. (Introduce the participants)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Prepare the preview. (State the problem to be discussed and the organizational plan to be followed)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Prepare the first transition. (between Identify a Problem and Prove the Problem Exists).
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Prepare the second transition. (between Prove the Problem Exists and Explain the Causes of the Problem).
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Prepare the third transition. (between Explain the Causes of the Problem and Predict Possible Future Effects of the Problem).
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Prepare the fourth transition. (between Predict Possible Future Effects of the Problem and Present Possible Solutions to the Problem).
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Prepare the fifth transition. (between Present Possible Solutions to the Problem and Select the Best Solution).
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Prepare memorable concluding remarks.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
IMPROMPTU SPEECH
Giving an impromptu speech consists on organizing one’s ideas quickly and speak about a subject without advance time to prepare. Don’t get scared, we make them all the time. Most of our conversations with friends, parents and teachers are really short impromptu talks, these might include answering questions, giving opinions, or sharing knowledge about the topics we discuss with people on a daily basis.
The best preparation for an impromptu speech is to e well-informed about people, places and news events in your city, state, country, and around the world. Good impromptu speakers know many ways to organize their thoughts even before they know their topic. They qickly mentally review possible organizational patterns when they know they must speak in a few moments. Being familiar with such patterns will enable you to choose the best method of organizing ideas for your particular topic. It will make it easier for you to think of things to say and examples to present. You will be able to choose and organizational pattern and start developing it mentally or on paper in the few moments you have before getting up to speak. Possible organizational patterns include:
- Past-Present- Future to describe how something once was, how it has changed, and how it will be in the future
- Time to describe chronological events or processes in sequential order
- Problem-Solution to describe a problem and ways to solve it
- Location to divide a topic into different geographical settings
- Cause-Effect to describe a situation and its effects
- Related Subtopics to divide a topic into different parts
- Advantage-Disadvantage to describe positive and negative aspects of a topic
