Education for Judgment: The Artistry of Discussion Leadership

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. In the give & take of discussion, students go beyond abstract understanding to the active application of important principles. They are confronted with the same kind of ambiguous, many-sided problems they will face in their professional lives. The elements of great teaching can be identified & consciously practiced. Many of the essays describe the building blocks of successful group leadership: negotiating a contract governing the conduct of the group; orchestrating a constructive process of questioning, listening, & responding; encouraging independent thinking; & guiding participants toward useful roles in their interaction with one another. The other chapters in the volume cover the ethical considerations of discussion teaching, the special challenges of teaching technical material using this method, & one pioneering effort to introduce a participative mode of medical education.C. Roland Christensen is the author of 'Education for Judgment: The Artistry of Discussion Leadership' with ISBN 9780071033077 and ISBN 0071033076.