The following will make or break this course: What you do when you are not a discussion leader.
Think about it: When you’re the discussion leader you’re in the hot seat so you’re going to put in the effort. You’re going to do the reading, talk to the professor, and have things to say in class.
If you aren't a leader it’s a different story. You will be tempted to think: If I don’t do the reading, it really won’t hurt me that much.
If you don’t come to class ready to participate you’re kind of being disrespectful to the rest of the class, and especially to the discussion leaders of the day. They’re the ones who are really going to suffer. I know. I took this class myself at Williams and experienced it. It feels really bad to be a teacher, pour hours of work into prepping, stand in front of a class, give everything you have to get the class going, and get . . . ::crickets:: It’s kind of like when you tell a joke and no one laughs. So, be ready to give back. Step it up for your classmates.
Don’t be a freeloader. It hurts your whole team. Do the reading and prepare to participate.
Well, I thought it was a funny joke
Well, I thought it was a funny joke
This is a class. In a class you’re usually working for yourself. You’re trying to learn and get a grade. Things change after college is over. Yes, you’ll still be working for yourself. But at the same time, most work meetings are about your team accomplishing group goal.¹
Ideally, that’s what I want this class to be about. Building an inclusive community that values collective goals. I hope to see you make the transition to a team-based attitude in this class. Think of this class as basically a big group project. Your classmates are your partners. Help each other out. Even if you don’t want to do the reading for your own sake, do it for your classmates. Do it for the team.
Review the Socratic Questioning Guide here. This is another way to “ask good questions” of each other. The goal of discussion is problem-posing, clarification, extension, application, critiquing, making connections, etc.
We can thank Prof. Kornell for several of the tips above which I have adapted for our class.