Organiser
- Be an organized leader. Ensure that the seminar stays on schedule and covers all planned topics within the allotted time.
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Communicate seminar activities, compulsory activities, and deadlines in an unambiguous manner, both in Canvas and orally in the seminars.
- Take care of practical aspects: distribution of assignments, opponent roles, mediate discussions, control use of time, decide deadlines and create submission folders/discussion threads in Canvas.
- Set objectives for the course and clarify expectations regarding the learning environment.
- Explain the reason for the various activities: What is the purpose of the seminar? What will the students learn? Why is this relevant and useful?
Facilitator
- Ensure a good learning environment and treat students equally.
- Ensure that the students get to know one another and pave the way for constructive dialogue and good social relations.
- Be approachable – make yourself available for support and guidance.
- Be flexible and attentive to participants' energy and engagement levels. Adjust strategies to the needs and dynamics of the group.
Scholar
- Be an encourager of critical thinking – motivate participants to analyze, critique, and evaluate ideas. Foster diverse perspectives by creating an environment where differing viewpoints are respected.
- Provide academic introductions – what academic topics are to be discussed at this seminar?
- Point out connections in the syllabus that the students may not have thought of.
- Prepare questions which may go beyond the topic of the paper. It is often a good idea to use topical examples (from own experiences, the media, literature). It may be helpful to discuss with other seminar leaders.
- Ensure constructive feedback between all participants. The feedback ought to be a formative assessment (assessment for learning) rather than a summative assessment (assessment of learning). Students often have little experience of providing good feedback; they may feel that they do not possess the necessary skills, and they may feel uncomfortable criticising others’ work.
- Provide a summary of the academic content and discussion towards the end of the seminar.