According to students in Mu 101 (Fall 2019):

  • Be present and participate!
  • Prepare for discussions/activities by (1) reading to understand the main idea, (2) re-reading for details that you can talk or think about, and (3) making a list of things that stood out to you
  • Practice being a good empath. Write down questions until the speaker is finished.
  • Assume someone is speaking with positive intent. Ask non-judgmental follow-up questions.
  • Be patient as others gather their thoughts
  • Let everyone take turns in speaking. Don’t cut other people off.
  • Be aware of who is not talking in order to invite them to speak
  • Ask more questions
  • Speak loudly and clearly
  • Challenge others’ ideas in a respectful manner as opposed to pretending to agree with something you don’t agree with
  • We all think differently about things and that can make a conversation go really well
  • Getting off-topic can still lead to a meaningful discussion
  • It’s ok to jump in and express your thoughts because it may spark another topic
  • Anyone can play a role; change shouldn’t be a closed door
  • It’s fascinating to sit down and listen to other people discuss their research