Teaching Discussion Skills Transforms Modern Education

The Discussion Crisis in Modern Education

“We’re living in this moment where everything feels so identitarian and high stakes,” Garonzik explains. The statistics are striking – fewer than 20% of students believe their peers are actually listening when they speak.

Students face three main challenges in classroom discussions:

• Uncertainty about getting their voice heard

• Doubt about whether their contributions are “good enough”

• Confusion about taking notes during discussions

These aren’t just academic challenges. They reflect deeper issues of confidence and belonging in learning spaces.

Teaching Discussion Skills Through Structure

Garonzik’s Real Discussions framework makes conversation skills teachable through four core components:

Relating: Building connections between ideas and people

Excerpting: Using evidence effectively

Asking: Developing precise questioning abilities

Listening: Practicing active attention and comprehension

How Skills Progress

The framework adapts as students develop:

Elementary: Students learn discrete discussion skills

Middle School: Students practice making real-time decisions about how to contribute

High School: Students understand discussion as a team sport

Like teaching typing skills in the 1990s computer lab, Garonzik advocates for dedicated “conversation labs” where students develop these essential capabilities.

Building Psychological Safety

Creating safe discussion spaces requires:

• Consistent, predictable routines

• Clear discussion formats

• Structured ways for all voices to be heard

• Specific note-taking strategies

• Regular trust-building practice

One effective technique: students hold up fingers to show how many times they’ve spoken, ensuring balanced participation without pressuring quieter voices.

Measuring Real Impact

Schools using structured discussion training see improvements in:

• Student confidence expressing disagreement

• Peer listening and engagement

• Skills transfer to other contexts

• Overall sense of belonging

These skills extend far beyond the classroom. Students report using them everywhere – from ordering at restaurants to handling family conflicts.

As one ninth-grader put it: “With Real [Discussions], I learned it was possible to disagree with each other’s ideas, not whole entire identities.”

Beyond Academics: Life Skills

While discussion skills boost academic performance, their impact reaches much further. “Conversation is how the most meaningful parts of human existence happen,” Garonzik notes. It’s how we:

• Build friendships

• Fall in love

• Explore faith

• Lead others

As Simone de Beauvoir reminds us, “attention is the purest form of generosity.” Teaching discussion skills equips students with tools for meaningful human connection.

Looking to the Future

As AI reshapes our world, human conversation skills become increasingly valuable. The ability to engage in authentic dialogue will set students apart.

The Vision: Conversation Labs

Garonzik sees schools developing dedicated spaces for teaching human interaction – much like the computer labs of the past. This structured approach could help address:

• Rising social isolation

• Digital dependence

• Future workplace demands

• Community building needs

Ready to Transform Your School’s Discussions?

Discover more insights about teaching discussion skills and fostering authentic dialogue in schools. Listen to the full conversation with Liza Garonzik on the Dean’s Roundtable podcast.

Listen to the Full Episode: Transforming School Discussions with Liza Garonzik