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Dialogue Thread

Dialogue is one of the most effective, yet least practiced learning strategies. It is different from other kinds of communication in that it requires participants to trust one another and to be trustworthy themselves. It requires more that a willingness to listen and tolerate different points of view. Dialogue thrives where there is a thirst for honestly understanding complex issues and a real appreciation for multiple viewpoints. Dialogue has at its foundation a valuation of question and answer and pursuit of nuances with an intended result of better alignment of belief and practice.

Dialogue with other educators in the form of collaboration, peer-review, sharing reflections, etc. focuses conversation on professional issues and builds trust. These may actually be the most enduring and have the most long-term impact for improving student learning because the trust required to have honest discussions with no defensiveness - everyone just trying to learn - sets a tone and a climate for life-long learning in an environment where people of all ages are free to take risks. They know that whether their actions succeed or fail to bring about desired results, their colleagues will enter into a supportive dialogue, offering perspective and participating in problem-solving.

• Begin by asking low-risk questions and set the expectation that everyone responds. "Round robins" or "whips" where everyone, in turn, responds briefly (60 seconds) to questions like:
  • Briefly describe the best example of technology use (or cooperative learning, inquiry, authentic assessment,  engaged learning, etc.) that occurred in your classroom this week.
  • Tell one or two technology applications you would like help with and name one that you could help others with.
  
  
  
• Next, continue to ask relatively low-risk questions and not only does everyone respond but participants listen closely to each other and make supportive responses and ask supportive or neutral questions.
  • I'd like help with that one, too.
  • I just read a good article about that in "Technology and Learning".



• Now, we have established an expectation of verbal and supportive participation. We can expand that to include questions and statements that demonstrate respectful disagreement or lack of complete understanding.
  • I tried that activity last month but had problems with it. It sounds as if your experience was positive. What do you think were a couple of your "keys to success"?
  • I'm not sure I understand how you deal with classroom management problems in that situation.
    
    
• At this point, participants should be initiating dialogue communication, not merely responding to facilitator prompts.

All group meetings should model use of good dialoguing techniques and build in depth with each successive meeting. Don't forget that some dialoguing can be done via email, chats, and discussion boards.