Whoosh, It Went Right by

By ignoring important points or not highlighting patterns in the dialogue, you are missing out on the needed attention to details.

• "If I do nothing, they will inquire." - Just having a forum, does not mean they will use it. You will need to intervene to get things started or to get things above a superficial level. Comments, especially praise, without reason can also stop the flow. Instead, try to instigate further thought.
  
  
• Summaries vs. Landscapes - Summarizing can clarify dialogue, but also puts you in the center of the discussion and ends the path of discussion. Instead, try using a "Landscape" where many points of view are presented and no judgments are made. Identify patterns of dialogue, maybe give a tally and suggest a new direction.
  
  
• Letters from the Instructor - A letter is a forum for your ideas and to give an update about what you are thinking. But the important thing is the participants ideas. If you need to send a letter detailing class procedures, use e-mail and keep it out of the discussion.
  
  
• Five-Cornered Intersection - Picking out random details but not really tying them together. Highlight commonalties to avoid confusion.