What Are Harkness Discussions?

Harkness discussions are student-led discussions that help students "to make discoveries for themselves, to get them to draw their own conclusions, to teach them how to consider all sides of an argument, and to make up their own minds based on analysis of the material at hand. Harkness teaching tries to develop in students their own sense of responsibility for their education. The teacher is the cultivator of that sense of responsibility, rather than the fount of information and analysis." (Exeter Humanities Institute 2019 Guide, p.2).

Teachers facilitate discussion in various ways, through questions, by introducing topics, by reframing and rephrasing statements, etc., but the emphasis is on student discourse, participation and thought. It requires a significant investment of energy for all participants as well as adherence to agreed upon discussion guidelines. Students are expected to come to class having read, annotated, and developed their own understanding of given material so that they are prepared to share, question, and collectively discuss the material with their peers. This occurs around oval tables were communication is face-to-face with each other, rather than just directed towards a teacher in the front of the room.