The Panel Discussion

In the panel discussion, experts interact with one another in a small group as an audience listens. Panels may be formed around a number of topics. In a well-organized panel discussion, the moderator formulates the major topics to be discussed and informs the participants of these topics ahead of time. He or she introduces participants, organizes the discussion, and summarizes panelists’ contributions. The moderator may decide to follow a modified problem-solving agenda or may allow the discussion to follow its own path, but in either case, he or she controls the shape of the discussion. It is up to the moderator and participants to ensure that the discussion follows a logical plan, that participation is fair, and that enough time is allocated for each topic.

The key to moderating or participating in a panel is to be well-informed, to listen carefully to others, and to make sure that the discussion is coherent. The panel format is particularly interesting because it combines small group and public communication. Panelists ­must share ideas and reach conclusions within the group while also communicating to an audience. This is no easy task.

The Buzz Group

Some discussion formats are expressly designed to be used as supplements to formal presentations. Their goal is to increase audience response to a speech or public discussion. One such format is the buzz group. Once the initial presentation is finished, audience members are divided into small discussion groups and are asked to respond to the speaker’s topic. For example, a conference on the topic of wellness might begin with a speech on the importance of a healthy diet. To reinforce the speaker’s points, audience members might be asked to di­vide into groups of seven or eight people, to make a list of factors that reinforce unhealthy eating habits and then to think of ways to resist these negative influences. After members of each group have had time to discuss their ideas, a spokesperson reports the group’s conclusions to the assembly as a whole.

The buzz session increases audience involvement by placing audience members in a small, friendly group. Members who might be intimidated by speaking up in a large forum often feel comfortable in the small group context. In addition, discussion makes the speaker’s points more personal and more memorable.