PANEL DISCUSSION

Reference for my dear two-year-programme students (Session 2018-19)


The typical panel consists of seven elements:

1. Welcome (Moderator welcomes the panelists and audience)
2. Panelist introductions (Moderator introduces the panelists)
3. Panelist initial comments (Panelists give some initial comments about the topic discussed)
4. Moderator pose questions to the panelists
5. Questions from the audience directed to panelist(s) (not included in the six minutes - time for panel discussion)
6. Summary (Moderator summarizes the discussion)
7. Thank you (Moderator expresses thanks to the panelists and audience)

Adapted from: https://powerfulpanels.com/panel-discussion-formats/

If you want to perform well in this activity, you need to plan well and allow room for fortuitous improvisation. Practise more to make the discussion interesting, engaging and looking effortless to audience.

PREPARATION FOR PANEL DISCUSSION

• Choose a theme and then narrow down a topic (e.g. Theme: financial matters; Topic: Why celebrities should have side hustles?) Create a catchy title for this activity and make sure the topic is trendy and fun.
• Choose a moderator with a backbone. He or she must be able to control the discussion. The moderator should be able to give response or react to funny, provocative or interesting stories that will make for a fun discussion.
• Choose 3 or 4 panelists and not more than that for this classroom activity. Too many panelists will negatively affect timing and the liveliness of the discussion. Panelists whom you want to role play must have good resumes or LinkedIn profiles (e.g. Datuk Michelle Yeoh, Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, Dr. Soo Wincci, Henry Golding) and of course, make sure they are relevant candidates to discuss about the topic you have selected.
• Conduct research on your pertinent topic through reading articles or newspaper (e.g. www.thestar.com.my, www.wikihow.com, www.nst.com.my, www.pinterest.com) and watching news or videos (e.g. ed.ted.com, Youtube). Take good notes and discover interesting stories. You may also contribute riffs or opinions in your discussion.
• Rehearse beforehand. During rehearsal time, moderator can practise asking questions in a directed way to bring out interesting stories and remind the panelists of the stories or topics they can speak about. Meanwhile, panelists can practise delivering their ideas intelligibly and effectively. Take it as a speaking practice. There should be some spontaneity, but having a good handle on some interesting questions and topics in advance is key.
• Structure the discussion to be more like a conversation. It should not be a series of presentations, but instead a lively discussion among experts sharing their thoughts and opinions.
• Develop a final list of questions for the actual panel discussion and make sure you have answers/responses for all the questions.
• Try not to have two or more panelists speaking at the same time. Use turn-taking strategies (refer to: https://busyteacher.org/20571-7-turn-taking-strategies-boost-student-speaking.html)

WARNING: DO NOT READ FROM YOUR NOTES AS MARKS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR SPEAKING NOT READING!

Setting up for panel discussion in class 

• Try to avoid using slides for the discussion. Slides are for presentations, not discussions. If you really need those slides, you may show one or two.
• Don't put panelists behind a table. It adds a formality and distance that prevents interaction with each other and the audience. Panel can be on the same level as the audience in the class.
• Arrange the panelists' sitting in a slight semi-circle so that they can see each other and the audience. Moderator may sit in the middle or at the side.

ALL THE BEST! Hope you do well.