Dialogic Discussion and the Paideia Seminar

Abstract

Discussion is currently at the center of educators’ attention, and Paideia Seminars are discussions that increasingly are being advocated. In particular, Paideia Seminars embody dialogic discussion. However, little is known about the extent to which principles of dialogic discussion are manifested in classrooms during the enactment of the seminars. The main purpose of this case study was to examine types of discussion in Paideia Seminars. Data were collected through observations, questionnaires, and interviews. “Grand case analysis,” “micro-examination” of the seminar discussions, and “narrative research” analyses were done. The overarching conclusion of the study was that the observed discussions reflected the teacher’s transitional status in conducting dialogic discussion, with some features of “ideal” Paideia Seminar dialogue represented and some features of “teacher-fronted” discussion represented.