The first thing is to communicate the objective of a discussion to the students. The teacher of the class will probably explain the objective of the discussion. However, if this is not well communicated to the students, it may be good to explain it again. The most important point of facilitation is what is taking place on the ground: or in other words, observing students’ behavior.

Yes. It’s important to observe them closely and help them get close to the objective (goal) of the discussion. For example, it’s good to get a grip on the situation among the students by listening carefully to what the groups are discussing and surveying the whole classroom. If you feel they are moving away from the goal while you observe them, get them back on track.

That’s right. And another thing is that it’s also very important to create an environment in which they can talk easily, so that they can take active part in the discussion. If the students feel uncomfortable about speaking and the discussion doesn’t seem to be proceeding, it’s good to let them know that it is safe to express their opinions freely in the discussion.