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GSI Teaching & Resource Center
University of California, Berkeley
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Setting Guidelines or "Ground Rules" for Discussion
Consider developing with the students a set of guidelines or ground rules for class discussion. (See " Establishing Guidelines for Discussion.") We recommend these exercises because they
- include students in the process of establishing guidelines for discussion,
- make students take responsibility for developing guidelines with you, and
- produce an agreement to which you and the students can refer throughout the semester.
If you decide not to conduct a ground rules exercise, we suggest that you discuss the statements you have written on your syllabus about respectful discussions.
Getting Started Menu
- Some Basics
- Preparing for the Semester and Managing Your Time
- Introduction
- Communicating with Professors, GSIs, and Staff
- Considering the Tone You Want to Set with Students
- Preparing a Section Syllabus or Information Sheet
- The Elements of a Section Syllabus
- Sample Section Syllabi
- Establishing Your Record-Keeping Methods
- Locating Your Classroom and Office
- Time Management Strategies
- The First Day of Class
- Introduction
- Objectives for the First Day
- Sample Outline for the First Day
- Creating the Setting
- Introductions and Attendance
- Going Over the Section Syllabus
- Setting Guidelines or “Ground Rules” for Discussion
- Icebreakers
- Group Activities
- Enrollment Information
- Getting Student Feedback on the First Day
- For Further Reading
- FAQs
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