DISCUSSION BOARD: FEATURES, ELEMENTS, FUNCTION, EXAMPLE - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

A discussion board is a conversation that takes place on a public stage. In this activity, a group of specialists debate about a specific topic that is of interest to a specific community.

The main function of the discussion boards is to offer valuable information in relation to a topic that interests the community that is witnessing the activity. The fact that the panelists are specialists in this topic allows for a high-level discussion.

A discussion panel is made up of a moderator, a group of specialists and an audience. Source: Markus Pössel

Universities and other academic campuses are common settings for panel discussions. In some cases they are organized by the students themselves and in others they are prepared by the authorities, in order to deal with a topic of social, political or cultural significance.

characteristics

- The topics that are debated in a panel discussion must be of public interest, since the main idea is that the guests to the panel can clarify concepts and provide useful information to viewers.

- The discussion panel has a specific objective, either to inform about a topic and its implications or to generate concrete proposals.

- They usually last between 45 and 60 minutes.

- The discussion panels must be made up of at least three people.

- The topics that are debated in a discussion panel can be proposed by the panelists themselves or by any actor in society.

- The panelists must be specialists related to the area under discussion and, at the same time, members of different unions. This way they can contribute different points of view that complement each other.

- The dynamic is directed by a moderator, who offers the rights to speak and leads the discussion.

- The audience has the possibility to intervene, either by asking pertinent questions or comments that complement the information given.

Elements

A panel discussion is made up of three main elements: several specialists, a moderator and an audience.

Specialists

They are the experts on the subject to be discussed who will offer interventions in the panel discussion. They must be at least three people, and can be groups of up to 7 or 10 specialists.

It is important to determine the number of panelists considering the time available, so that everyone can participate in a fluid way and that the event does not become tedious for the audience.

The experts must handle the topic that will be discussed in the panel very well, they must be able to provide useful and quality information. Each panelist must offer their opinion on the subject in question, and a dynamic must be generated that allows feedback and the exchange of concepts and perceptions.

Moderator

He is the person in charge of guiding the debate that is generated in the discussion panel. You must have knowledge about the subject to be discussed, as this will allow you to better interact with the panelists and the public.

In addition, the moderator must have social skills in order to be perceived as pleasant and timely to the panelists and the audience.

The main role of the moderator is to keep the focus of the conversation. In addition, they must be able to integrate the audience in the activity and ensure that the debate is generated in a fluid way.

Audience

The audience corresponds to the public that will participate in the discussion panel. They are the first interested in obtaining the information that will be provided by the specialists.

The audience of a panel discussion actively interacts with the panelists in the moments dedicated to it during the course of the activity. The idea is that they can raise their questions and feel that they are taken into account by the experts.

Function

The most relevant function of a panel discussion is to delve into topics of interest, sometimes extremely topical. The members of the panel have the necessary legitimacy to be considered authorities on the subject, which allows the information that is shared to be very useful.

The discussion panels can focus on topics related to current events in a society, or with more general academic areas that have a direct impact on the audience considering current times.

Whatever the case, the exchange of ideas promoted by the discussion boards can be an important source of information for the audience.

How to make a panel discussion?

It is recommended that the preparations related to a panel discussion be carried out well in advance, so that it is possible to find qualified experts, an optimal space and a moderator that guarantees the smooth development of the activity.

Below we describe the main phases that should occur when preparing a panel discussion:

Choice of theme

The first action should be to know what will be discussed in the panel. The decision will depend on the nature of the activity, as well as the historical and social context of the moment.

For example, the panel discussion can address academic topics that need to be further developed, such as certain scientific concepts, artistic notions, relevant historical movements, or other topics.

On the other hand, the theme to be developed may be more linked to the reality that is taking place. In that case, it is possible to talk about the next presidential elections, the educational policies of the current government, the latest advances in science or the new artistic movements, for example.

Determine the audience

It is very important that the audience is really interested in the topics that will be addressed in the discussion panel, so the choice of the audience must respond to the proposed agenda.

Once the topic to be developed has been defined, the next step is to define the audience that will be invited to participate in the activity. If it is an academic subject, the invitation can be made to the university community or to students of primary and / or secondary studies.

Likewise, if the discussion panel will revolve around a social issue, the social actors who are affected by said issue should be invited. The audience should always be directly related to the topic of the panel.

Choose the place of the event

The stage of the panel must have adequate conditions to receive the panelists. It should have seats and tables (if necessary) so that the experts can be comfortable.

Likewise, it must have a space for the moderator's work. In some cases a podium is available, but sometimes this may mean that the moderator will not have such direct involvement with the panelists, so it is recommended that they be physically close to both the expert group and the audience.

Finally, the space in which the auditorium will be located must be comfortable, well ventilated and with comfortable seats. Optionally, notebooks and pens can be delivered, so that attendees can take notes during the course of the panel.

Choose the objectives

One of the possible objectives of a panel discussion may be to clarify any doubts that may exist in relation to the chosen topic.

Another possibility is to generate a specific action plan to respond to a particular situation related to the topic to be discussed.

Finally, a third option may simply be to open a space for discussion that promotes the emergence of new approaches related to the subject under debate.

Determine the duration

The overall duration of the panel must be very clear; in general they usually last between 45 and 60 minutes approximately.

It is also necessary to determine how much time will be reserved for each phase of the activity: the introduction of the guests, the explanation of the objective, the introductory interventions, the exchange of ideas, the section of questions from the audience and the acknowledgments.

Invite the experts

Once the topic to be discussed and the audience that will attend has been defined, the experts related to the topic can be invited.

As stated above, they must be knowledgeable on the subject in depth and must also be considered as relevant authorities by the public.

Invite the moderator

The moderator must also be in tune in relation to the central theme and also in relation to the participants (panelists and audience).

It must be a person with a profile that fits with the experts and the public, so that they can conduct the activity in a fluid and enjoyable way.

Prepare questions for panelists

During the panel, a questionnaire will be essential. Through these consultations the conversation will be conducted.

Therefore, it is important that these questions are prepared in advance. It is worth mentioning that it is not necessary for said questionnaire to be closed; It is possible to prepare the essential questions and leave room for others that arise in the middle of the discussion.

Introduce panelists in advance

The activity will be much more harmonious if the panelists have already had a first approach prior to the day of the panel discussion.

Coordinating face-to-face meetings may be difficult, but you can consider meeting over the phone or via video calls. This will relax the dynamics among the panelists and allow them to have more information about the approaches that can be presented on the day of the activity.

Examples

Panel discussion on bullying

In a secondary school, a panel discussion can be organized to discuss how bullying affects adolescents. The objective of the panel will be to know how bullying affects young people and what can be done to avoid these discomforts.

In this case, the auditorium can be made up of students from that school. As for the moderator, it can be a student who is studying advanced degrees and who can empathize with both specialists and the public.

The group of specialists can be made up of a psychologist specialized in issues related to adolescence, a representative of the legal field specialized in bullying, a sociologist and a teacher from the institution.

Panel discussion on social media

In a classroom, you can organize a panel discussion that focuses on how social media affects focus in study. The objective is to know the ways in which understanding is affected and how social networks can be used in this context in a favorable way.

The auditorium would be made up of the students of the course in question and the moderator may be a graduate of said institution.

The experts to invite can be a psychologist specializing in cognitive development, a school teacher who suggests ways to integrate social networks into educational activities and, finally, a professional in the area of ​​computer science who has created an educational platform that works in line with social media.

References

1. "9 tips for conducting a panel discussion" at Universia. Retrieved on October 24, 2019 from Universia: noticias.universia.com.ar
2. Arnold, K. "The Definition of a Panel Discussion" in Powerful Panels. Retrieved on October 24, 2019 from Powerful Panels: powerfulpanel.com
3. "General guidelines for the presentation of discussion panels" at Universidad Centroamericana. Retrieved on October 24, 2019 from Universidad Centroamericana: uca.edu.ni
4. "How to conduct a panel discussion" on WikiHow. Retrieved on October 24, 2019 from WikiHow: wikihow.com
5. "Discussion panel" on Wikipedia. Retrieved on October 24, 2019 from Wikipedia: wikipedia.org
6. Graham, J. “Get more from many: hosting a great panel discussion” in Communication Director. Retrieved on October 24, 2019 from Communication Director: communication-director.com