Conducting a Forum/Panel Discussion

Shoba Devarajan
Centre for General & Extracurricular
Studies
AIMST
2005
 Panel Discussion
A discussion is designed to provide an
opportunity to hear several people
knowledgeable about a specific issue or
topic present information and discuss
their views. It may help the audience
further clarify and evaluate their positions
regarding these issues and increase their
understanding of the position of others. It
is usually followed by a Q & A session
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• A panel consists of three to six speakers
who will provide information and
opinions, often trying to arrive at
solutions to problems.
• Such a discussion will have a
moderator/facilitator who will organise
and control the proceeding.

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 Preparing for a panel discussion
♀ Define the problem to be solved. Restate the
problem in your own words, so you know exactly
what you are planning to solve.
♀ Analyse the problem. Break down the problem into
parts to find places where solutions may be applied.
♀ Identify possible solutions. Propose possible
solutions.
♀ Evaluate the evidence. Separate facts from opinions,
and eliminate irrelevant information and unworkable
solutions
♀ Organise your points. To avoid omitting important
points during discussion, organise your main points
and supporting details in a way that will be easy for
you to use during theShoba
2005
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 Your role as participant
 Being a cooperative speaker. Remember to show
concern for the needs of others as well as for your own.
 Volume and tone. Speak clearly and loudly enough to
be heard by other members of the panel and the
audience. Be polite at all times.
 Disagreeing. Do it in a respectful and constructive way.
Disagree with the person’s solutions, not the person;
ask a question that pinpoints a problem or difficulty
with the proposed solution. Defend your own points
with precise language and appropriate detail.
 Interrupting. You may interrupt to ask for clarification
of a point or to refocus the discussion. Usually the
facilitator or moderator does this.
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 Your role as participant
 Being an active listener. Listeners look for meaning, think about
what they hear and respond with verbal and non-verbal signs.
 Think as you listen. Focus on the speaker’s main points,
concentrate on what is being said rather than what you are
going to say next.
 Apply what you hear to what you already know. Relate the
information to your own experience or knowledge by asking
yourself “Does that sound right to me? Can I accept that?”
 Take note. Paraphrase, summarise, abbreviate, and focus on key
words and main ideas.
 Give the speaker feedback. Use eye contact and nod to show
that you are listening. Ask relevant questions or make
appropriate comments when given the opportunity.
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 Your role as moderator
* Keep the peace. The success of a discussion depends
upon every member’s taking an active role.
* Introduce the discussion. Give a brief overview by
presenting essential background information about the
issue/problem and discussing key terms related to the
discussion.
* Referee the discussion. Make sure everyone has an
equal chance to participate. Recognise speakers and
encourage participation from members who have not yet
contributed. If things get tense between two
speakersdefuse the situation by pointing out the shared
goal of solving the problem.
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 Your role as moderator
 Keep the discussion on track. When
participants digress, steer the discussion back
to the main problem. Encourage politeness; try
not to allow the discussion to bog down in
interruptions and name-calling.
 Conclude the discussion. Summarise the major
points made during the discussion. Give
members a chance to comment on the
summary and modify it.

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 Your role as moderator
The Q & A
♦ Limit speakers to asking questions. Politely stop people
who digress or who begin to give speeches instead of
asking a question.
♦ Call on people from all parts of the audience. Avoid
calling on those only from the middle of the audience or
those seated in the front rows or those you know. Give
everyone a chance to ask a first question before calling
on those with a second question.
♦ Make sure panelists answer as briefly as possible. Their
conciseness will give more people a chance to ask
questions.
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