Community Dialogue

p4c craft header

Instigating, sustaining and improving group dialogue

DIALOGUE, in the context of a p4c, refers to a kind of speaking and listening in which people focus on questions, make suggestions in response to the questions and then analyse, explore, evaluate, compare, justify and challenge the suggestions. Participants such dialogues are open-minded enough to consider suggestions that contradict their own opinions and beliefs.

In this section, our contributors share practical ideas about how to instigate dialogue, sustain it and improve it. Read on or consider becoming a contributor to share your ideas.

Title Category Author Createdsort icon
A classroom dialogue
Video of a classroom dialogue with commentary. Enquiry is ongoing. An initial dialogue around a pupils' question often consists of a collection of related thoughts. What then? 		Community Dialogue, Following Up Steve Williams 17/05/2012
All, some and none: A dialogue with young children
An audio clip with some comments on using these concepts in discussion with 4 to 5 year old children 		Community Dialogue, Reasoning Concepts Steve Williams 08/02/2012
Small Talk for Big Talk
When did you last have a meeting where the very first thing you spoke about was the subject of the meeting? This article explores the use of directed "small talk" to make small group discussions more productive. 		Community Dialogue Jason Buckley 03/02/2012
Panel Discussions
The method of 'panel discussion' provides a very useful and flexible discussion format. It also helps you work with very large groups. 		Community Dialogue Steve Williams 09/06/2011
The believing and doubting game
A game, or activity, to develop critical thinking in group dialogue, reading and writing 		Community Dialogue Steve Williams 07/09/2008
Little concepts for big thinking
On the importance of concepts for reasoning and connection-making 		Community Dialogue, Reasoning Concepts Steve Williams 02/07/2008
Dimensions of philosophical dialogue
A simple chart that connects elements of philosophical dialogue. Useful for planning and evaluation 		Community Dialogue Steve Williams 02/07/2008