Whole-class Discourse Consisting of Peer Collaborations Supported by Local Discourses

Abstract

This paper discusses the concept that whole-class discourse consists of peer collaborations through support by local discourse. The following three trends were identified: (1) Students start whole-class discourse based on a "meaning" proposed by the local group. This activity stimulates students who don't have confidence in the whole-class discourse to participate. (2) Local discourse assists and maintains incomplete whole-class discourse, and whole-class discourse is concluded by local discourse, so students can freely participate in whole-class discourse. (3) Teachers started local discourse, and whole-class discourse followed. We organized lessons, considering not only the interactions between teachers and students but also the interactions among students by local discourse in order to pursue studies by whole-class discourse.