It seems to make more sense when they are in control.

Often times, I think class works better when I am more of a moderator than a supplier of information. In this picture I decided to try something that I had seen modeled in one of my upper level college courses because I really thought it could work. In this "Fishbowl" discussion, students were first asked to support a side of an argument. They then had to discuss their reasons why in small groups before representatives were chosen to sit in the "bowl" in the middle and discuss while the rest of us looked on. The result was a heated discussion of heroism and cowardice sparked with passion and fervor. Students outside the bowl were later asked to join in, and while they all respectfully disagreed with each other--they were able to understand the points being made by their opposition. It was such a fun and lively discussion. It just made so much more sense to have them in control of the overarching themes of the piece of literature rather than to have me provide them to the class.