"I discovered I'm not the only one who's right. By really listening to the others in the discussion, I learned to be open to different ideas—and to build on them. The goal isn't to win, like in a debate. It's to come up with better, stronger ideas by listening and responding to each other." Grade 11 student Kylie Lee is speaking about participating in Harkness discussions in her English classes at Lakefield College School. More and more Lakefield is incorporating the Harkness Method into its English courses with an eye to enhancing communication skills. And it's working. "It makes you pay more attention than you do when the teacher leads discussions. You have to respond to what others say, so you can't hide—you don't have the option of not not putting up your hand," says another Gr. 11 student, Keely Matsusaki. Developed by the Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) in New…
Read moreHarnessing Harkness: the Art of Cultivating Communication