Teachers often struggle with engaging students in deep discussions about content.  The typical dialogue pattern is – teacher asks, one student responds, teacher confirms, teacher asks the next question.

Student learning is increased when they are given a larger voice in the discussion.  One strategy for doing this is the “Volleyball Technique.”  This technique is described in Page Keeley’s book, Science Formative Assessment: 75 Practical Strategies for Linking Assessment, Instruction, and Learning.

In this technique, the teacher “serves” a question. Several students respond to the question as if “setting the ball” up for each other.  Eventually, the “ball” goes back to the teacher who “serves” up the next question.

When you first start using this technique, it is helpful to have a SOFT prop.