| Levels | Progress indicators | ||||
| Key aspect of learning: Strategy | Key aspect of learning: Content | ||||
| Participation | Role | Speaking and listening skills | Ideas | Language | |
| Level 1i | Contributes some information when prompted. | Relies on teacher support to maintain a group discussion. | Shows some response during interaction. |
Adds a few comments or questions in response to others. Contributes from personal experiences, usually without reference to the contributions of other people. Attempts to express an opinion on personal matters. |
Uses vocabulary that may provide some information for the listener. |
| Level 1ii | Volunteers some information on topics within own experience. | Relies on some teacher support to maintain a group discussion. |
Attempts to use some social courtesies specific to group discussion and relevant to the content area, including: turn taking; responding appropriately; listening to the speaker; making connections with the speaker, e.g., nodding, smiling. Attempts to use some verbal and non-verbal features to gain attention and communicate ideas |
Begins to ask questions to gain or clarify information. Attempts to express an opinion on personal matters. Begins to clarify comments by rephrasing, e.g., "I mean." |
Uses vocabulary that enables the listener to interpret the message. |
| Level 1iii | Participates in a discussion on topics within own experience. | With some support, assumes different roles within discussion groups, e.g., leader, reporter. | Responds appropriately to questions. Displays some social courtesies specific to group discussion and relevant to the content area, including: turn taking; listening to the speaker; acknowledging and making connections with the speaker; interrupting appropriately, e.g., "Yes, and ... ", "What about... ?"; responding appropriately, e.g., "I agree... ", "I disagree... ". Uses some appropriate verbal and non-verbal features to gain attention and communicate ideas. |
Clarifies information by appropriate questioning, repeating or rephrasing. Makes comments or conveys opinions related to the topic. Ensures that own contributions make sense. |
Generally uses language appropriate to context and topic. Generally uses vocabulary that enables the listener to interpret the message. |
| Level 2 | Participates in a group discussion. Initiates and/or maintains a discussion, usually keeping to the topic. |
Takes on assigned roles within discussion groups, e.g., leader, reporter. | Uses some social courtesies specific to group discussion and relevant to the content area, including: turn taking; listening to the speaker; acknowledging and making connections with the speaker; interrupting appropriately, e.g., "What if... ?"; responding appropriately, e.g., "I agree... ", "What about... ?", "I think... ". Uses appropriate verbal and non-verbal features to gain attention, communicate ideas, and obtain feedback. |
Clarifies information, opinions, and ideas by using open and closed questions and by repeating, rephrasing, or extending information. Expresses opinions and discusses ideas about personal and indirect experiences. Expresses and justifies some ideas and opinions. Listens for and identifies some key points. |
Uses language appropriate to the context and the topic. Uses vocabulary to support own opinions. |
| Level 3 | Participates in group discussions. Initiates and/or sustains and develops the discussion, keeping to the topic. Responds to and respects the contributions of others. |
Takes on a role within discussion groups, e.g., leader, reporter. | Uses social courtesies specific to group discussion, including: turn taking; listening to the speaker; acknowledging and making connections with the speaker; interrupting appropriately, e.g., "Do you mean... ?"; responding appropriately, e.g., "What about... ?", "Is that like... ?". Uses strategies for coping with disagreements, e.g., seeking the opinions of or appealing to other group members ("What do the rest of you think?"). Uses a variety of appropriate verbal and non-verbal features to gain attention, communicate ideas, and obtain feedback. |
Uses questioning techniques to clarify information, understanding, opinions, and ideas. Explains, suggests, and elaborates ideas, information, and opinions related to personal and indirect experiences. Justifies ideas and opinions. Listens for and can identify most key points. |
Uses language appropriate to the context, the topic, and the purpose of the discussion. Chooses vocabulary to enhance own ideas and opinions, including subject-specific vocabulary. |
| Level 4 | Initiates discussion with confidence. Sustains group discussions. Respects and supports the contribution of others. |
Is able to take on different roles within discussion groups with confidence. | Confidently uses social courtesies specific to group discussion, including: turn taking, listening to the speaker; making connections with the speaker; interrupting and responding appropriately, e.g., "What do you mean by... ?", "That's a good point... ".
Uses strategies for coping with disagreements. Confidently uses a variety of appropriate verbal and non-verbal features to gain and regain attention, communicate ideas, and obtain feedback. |
Uses a range of questioning techniques with confidence to clarify information, understanding, opinions, and ideas. Elaborates coherently and explores information, opinions, and ideas related to personal and indirect experiences. Expresses and justifies ideas and opinions using logic and argument. Identifies key points/main ideas and summarises accurately. |
Consistently uses language appropriate to the context, the topic, and the purpose of the discussion. Uses language features and specific vocabulary to express own ideas and opinions. |
| Level 5 | Initiates and sustains group discussions with confidence, encouraging, responding to, respecting, and challenging the contribution of other members. | Depending on the needs of the group and the purpose of the discussion, can adopt different roles, including that of devil's advocate, to move the discussion forward. | Confidently uses social courtesies appropriate to the rules of formal and informal discussion and conversation, including: turn taking; listening to the speaker; acknowledging and making connections with the speaker; interrupting and responding appropriately, e.g., "That's a good point... ", "Have you thought about... ?"; using strategies for differing. Uses a variety of appropriate verbal and non-verbal features deliberately and appropriately to gain and regain attention; communicate ideas, opinions, and feelings; and obtain feedback. |
Communicates, explores, and elicits information, understandings, ideas, and opinions related to personal or indirect experiences. Uses logic and argument with confidence to justify and substantiate ideas and opinions. Listens to and identifies key points/main ideas effectively and summarises, elaborates, recounts and/or posits new ideas. |
Confidently uses language appropriate to the context, the topic, and the purpose of the discussion. Uses a variety of language features to express own ideas and opinions. |
