Symposium nursing education

detail of symposium.a method of teaching

1. SYMPOSIUM

2. INTRODUCTION
AncientGreekculturefromthe7th
centuryBCandwasapartyheldina
privatehome whereGreekmales
gatheredtodrink,eatandsing
together.Theactivitywasprimarily
enjoyedbythehighestclassofGreek
society,thearistoi.
Symposium techniqueisoneofthe
techniquesofhigherlearning.

3. MEANING
Theword“symposium”hasseveral
dictionarymeanings.
“gooddialogue”topresenttheviews
towardsGod.(Plato)
theintellectualrecreationorenjoyment.
ameetingofpersonstodiscussaproblem
ortheme.

4. DEFINITION
Symposium is defined as a teaching technique
that serves as an excellent method for
informing the audience, crystallizing their
opinion and preparing them for arriving at
decision regarding a particular issue or a
topic.

5. OBJECTIVES OF SYMPOSIUM
•Toidentifyandunderstandtwovarious
aspectsofthemeandproblems.
•Todeveloptheabilitytodecisionand
judgmentregardsaproblem.
•Todevelopthevaluesandfeelings
regardingaproblem.
•Toenablethelistenerstoformpolicies
regardingathemeorproblem.

6. CHARACTERISTICS
•Itprovidesthebroadunderstandingofatopicora
problem.
•Theopportunityisprovidedtothelistenerstotake
decisionabouttheproblem.
•Itisusedforhigherclassestospecificthemesand
problems.
•Itdevelopsthefeelingofcooperationand
adjustment.
•Theobjectivesassynthesisandevaluationare
achievedbyemployingthesymposiumtechnique.
•Itprovidesthedifferentviewsonthetopicofthe
symposium.

7. Seminar Vs Symposium
SEMINAR SYMPOSIUM
Topics are related to recent
trends and developments in a
discipline
Topics are related to
controversial issues in a
discipline.
Multiple aspects of the topic
under consideration is
discussed
Single aspect of the topic is
discussed
Chairperson has to exert
less control
Chairperson has to exert more
control
Comparitivelyless
preparation from the sides of
participants
Demandmorepreparation
from the sides of participants

8. MECHANISM OF SYMPOSIUM
2 or more
speaker
10 to 20 minutes
Speeches should
be disinterrupted
Persuasive,argumentative
informativeor evocative
Chairman should
introduces the topics.
Less interactior
active listener
Audeienceshould
sit in a single line

9. TECHNIQUES
•Moderatorshouldplantheprogramahead
oftime.
•Eachmembersoftheclass,aswellasthe
speakersshouldknowtheobjectivesof
thesymposiumandbriefofthetopic.
•Eachspeakershouldprepareonthegiven
oracceptedtopic.
•Themoderatorshouldhaveaconference
witheachofthespeakers.
•Themoderatormayfunctionasa
chairman.

10. •Thesymposiumstartswiththechairman
introducingthetopic.
•Nextchairmanintroducesthespeakers.
•Thenthetopicispresentedbythestudents
taking15to20minutestime.
•Asaconclusionattheendthechairman
givesbriefsummaryofallthespeeches
andopensthediscussiontothestudents.
•Anyquestionorcontributionsaddressed
throughthechairman.

11. PRECAUTIONS FOR SYMPOSIUM
There are three conditions in the use of the
symposium technique:
•Firstlythemoderatorshouldbesureto
preparethespeakersorseethattheyare
prepared.Theyshouldknowtherulesof
procedure,sequenceofspeaking,andway
inwhichtheforumwillbeconducted;and
theyshouldbeawareoftheideas,and
backgroundofotherperformers.

12. •Secondlythechairmanisresponsiblefor
preparingtheagendas,shouldnotattempt
tostackthecardsbyomittingorignoring
vitalphasesoftheproblemasheselects
ordelegateshisspeakers.Itisnotgoodto
faceuptoaninadvertentmisinterpretation
oromission.
•Thirdlythechairmanintheforum
situationsmustplanverycarefullyforthe
questioningperiodthatfollowsthe
preparedspeeches,unlesshewishesto
riskboredom.

13. ADVANTAGES
•Itissuitedtoalargegrouporclasses.
•Thismethodcanbefrequentlyusedtopresentbroad
topicsfordiscussionsymposiumatconventionsand
organizationmeetings.
•Organizationisgoodbecauseofthesetspeeches
preparedbeforehand.
•Givesdeeperinsightintothetopic.
•Directsthestudentstocontinuousindependent
study.
•Lendsitselftotheteachingofclinicalsubjects.
•Thismethodcanbeusedinpoliticalmeetings.

14. LIMITATIONS
•Thechairmanhasnocontroloverthespeakers.
•Thereisprobabilityofrepetitionoftheconduct
becauseeveryspeakerpreparesthemeasawhole.
•Thedifferentaspectsofathemearepresented
simultaneously.
•Thelistenersremainpassiveinthesymposium.
•Thediscussionandpresentationofthemeisnot
summarizedattheend.
•Thistechniqueisemployedtoachievethehigher
objectivesofcognitivedomainbutaffective
objectivesarenotemphasizedproperly.

15. SUMMARY

16. CONCLUSION
Symposiumasamethodofteachingissuitablefor
largeorsmallergroup,anumberofpapersareread
dealingwithdifferentaspectsofthesamesubject,or
differentpointsofviewononetopic.Thepapersmay
bepreparedbystaff,outsidespecialistsorstudents.
Afterthepapershavebeenread,contributionsare
invitedfromtheaudience.Thesemaytaketheform
ofadditionalpointsordirectquestionstooneor
otherofthepaperreaders.Allcontributionsare
addressedthroughthechairman.Generallythree-
fourthsofthetimewillbedevotedtothepaperand
one-fourthstotheaudienceparticipation.