After starting up a discussion, the next challenge is to maintain it and keep it moving in a focused direction. The teacher's role should be that of a facilitator, encouraging full participation and helping to promote understanding of the issue.
Choosing the right technique helps to provide a secure framework for a discussion so students feel comfortable expressing their opinions and exploring the topic. This can be as simple as getting your students to crystallise their opinions by holding a vote, or some of the more complex techniques described in the videos below.