Millennial Learning: April 16-17, 2009
Neil Davidson
Garrulous Gabbers in Groups, Begone!

Neil Davidson is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences and a consultant on cooperative learning for many school districts, colleges, and universities. His most recently edited books include Cooperative Learning in Mathematics: A Handbook for Teachers, Enhancing Thinking Through Cooperative Learning (with Toni Worsham), Professional Development for Cooperative Learning: Issues and Approaches (with Celeste Brody), and Cooperative Learning in Undergraduate Mathematics: Issues that Matter and Strategies that Work (with Elizabeth Rogers, Barbara Reynolds, and Tony Thomas).

Neil's professional specialty areas include mathematics education, teacher education, and faculty and staff development. He is Professor Emeritus of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Maryland, where he directed a doctoral program in professional development. He has led numerous faculty development sessions for the University Center for Teaching Excellence, and he developed the Faculty Consultation Program. He also served as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies. He is currently active in the Academy for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, which he co-founded.

Garrulous Gabbers in Groups, Begone!

Blah, blah, blah… Do you know any people who never know when to stop talking? People who never give others a chance to chime in or voice an opinion? These garrulous gabbers have all the answers, possibly all the questions as well. Is this person you, or someone you know?

The garrulous gabber prevents social construction of knowledge in groups, since s/he is the only person who gets to talk. In this session we will identify and describe the varied types of garrulous gabbers out there, will give some concrete ideas to help them change their behavior, and will generate ideas to give their victims an escape route. Through a constructivist-based workshop, we will share personal experiences, discover together ways to deal with gabbers, and have some fun in the process.

We will experience several cooperative discussion techniques that foster equal participation and prevent dominance by a gabber. Your group work will be enhanced when techniques for equal participation are employed. With these techniques, gabbers will let others speak more often and perhaps even realize that there is merit in listening.