Discussion Sessions Guide

Downloadable Resources

Below are materials to help you run your own discussion sessions over the course of a 10-week program.

Tips for Discussion Sessions

• • Discussion sessions should be casual, collaborative, and student-centered.
• • Leaders should facilitate rather than lecture; encourage student discussion and participation.
• • Start sessions by reviewing lecture concepts in an approachable way.
• • Use open-ended questions to encourage student input and curiosity.
• • Design sessions to feel welcoming and low-stress. A little humor goes a long way.
• • Encourage problem solving as a group and highlight multiple valid approaches.
• • Sessions should be flexible and responsive to student needs week by week.

The Role of the Discussion Leader

Discussion leads should be academically successful former students with strong communication skills. They act as:

• • Facilitators of collaborative learning, not lecturers.
• • Encouragers of mutual support among students.
• • Guides who help students interpret course content and manage academic habits.
• • Connectors to campus resources and cultural norms within the CS department.

Structure of a Session

• • Begin with an overview of this week’s lecture topics.
• • Pose guiding questions and review common misconceptions.
• • Work through selected practice problems as a group.
• • Invite questions, identify sticking points, and troubleshoot together.
• • Close with a summary and preview of upcoming material.

Supplemental Instruction Model

This model is inspired by Supplemental Instruction (SI), a peer-led support structure for historically difficult courses. Like SI, discussion sessions aim to proactively support students and improve retention. P2SCS integrates SI practices while adapting to the local context of computer science coursework and culture.