ELT365 · Day 190 — Discussion tasks — beyond ‘talk about this’

Idea — A good discussion task gives learners a clear outcome: agree on a top three, reach a decision, defend a position. ‘Talk about this topic’ is not a task — it is an invitation to silence.

Example — Weak: ‘Discuss social media.’ Strong: ‘Rank these five platforms from most to least harmful. Justify your top choice to the group.’

Try — Take a weak discussion prompt you use. Rewrite it with a specific, achievable outcome learners must reach together.

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