Volume 10, Issue 24 , February 2004, , Pages 61-99
Abstract
This article examines and introduces "discussion" as a way of teaching in university. It argues that one of the causes of inefficiency of academic education in Iran is its non-democratic and non-participatory way of university teaching. One strategy for solving this problem is disseminating and promoting ...
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This article examines and introduces "discussion" as a way of teaching in university. It argues that one of the causes of inefficiency of academic education in Iran is its non-democratic and non-participatory way of university teaching. One strategy for solving this problem is disseminating and promoting "discursion" as a way of teaching in the universities. This strategy could not only promote and develop the quality of university teaching, but it can also considerably help democratize the society and university system. The first part of the article examines the impact of non-democratic ways of teaching in Iranian universities on the educational processes. The second part of the article introduces "discussion" as a way of teaching and its unmerous social and educational advantages. In the third part, in order to define "discussion", it has been differentiated from other ways of conversations. Then, the social and cultural conditions of "discussion" are analyzed. In the next part various forms of group discussion areintroduced. In the final parts, an attempt has been made to critically examine the applicability of "discussion" as a way of university teaching in Iran. Also, several cultural and educational suggestions have been made to disseminate "discussion" in Iranian universities. The article ends with a brief conclusion highlighting the main points of the article. Methodologically, this study is partly based on my own personal ethnographic experience of studying in Iran and Britain. Also, I have presented and approach of a way of university teaching based on logical and theoretical argument extracted from many educational experiences and studies. The suggestions for disseminating "discussion" in Iranian universities are based on my anthropological analysis and life long experience of Iranian universities.
