Moderating A Panel Discussion Tips

Education 13-Panel Discussion
“The Real Status of Status of Basic Education in the Country”
Choose a Moderator
Tips in Moderating a Panel Discussion
1. Know more about the topic/theme

Find out the context of the discussion
2. Get to know the members of the panel
Ask them in advance what they are planning to focus in their talk. You
need to understand their points so it is easy for you to add some important
lines.
3. Manage time effectively

This is a challenge if the panelists are extending their time to
talk. Learn to traffic the flow of the discussion. Set a realistic
timeframe for your opening, introductions and your own questions, while
taking into account the audience’s questions as well.
4. Start with a powerful statement
After greeting the audience, share with them the goals of the panel and the
reason why the activity is organized. To avoid boredom, you can ask the
audience to cast their votes, and once you get enough input, invite the
panelists to comment on the results. It’s engaging and starts up a dialogue
between the speakers and the audience.
4. Be strictly neutral
Never take sides or express your own opinions. In the discussion, it’s the
panelist’s job to provide and shape arguments, while yours, as a
moderator, is to ensure the panel discussion flows and the audience is
getting the most out of it.
“Avoid phrases such as, ‘That’s a great point’, ‘Brilliant’, or ‘Interesting’.
You’re there to facilitate the conversation, not to tell the audience what you
think is cool or not.
Such remarks coming from the moderator can be suggestive, and you want
the audience to form their own opinions based on what they’re hearing,”
according to the expert, Juraj Pal.
Instead, nod slightly, or say, “Thank you, ____, for that”, which sounds
neutral and low-key.
6. Mix in audience questions throughout the debate/discussion/Invite

the Panel of interrogators to start raising the question. Ask to whom
do they address the question
Even if you have carefully prepared a set of your own questions, don’t
rigidly stick to your flow.
To make a conversation dynamic, get the questions from the audience/

panel of interrogators. After all, they are the main reason why you brought
the panel together.
The way to do it is inserting the incoming questions into the flow

continuously.
If this option is challenging, as it requires good multi-tasking skills: You
need to watch the incoming questions while listening to what the panelists
are saying. However, done well, this style makes for a highly engaging and
inclusive discussion.
Another way is to collect questions throughout the discussion and then

address them in the dedicated Q&A slot.
This works well in most cases, but you risk losing the audience, who need
to wait out the main discussion before you get to their questions. Just be
keen on the flow of the discussion and raising of questions.
7. Don’t be afraid to cut the panelists off

Panelists can easily get too absorbed in the conversation and hog the
microphone. If this happens, you must tactfully cut them off in order to
keep the panel discussion moving. Just be courteous.
“Setting expectations is really important here. Having met the panelists
before the actual debate helps them to be more forgiving if you cut them
short. This also helps build a little rapport to make you more comfortable
doing this, and the panelists more likely to accept it,” noted Kursha.
Follow people’s sentence pattern and interject where necessary. “Go for
gentle reinforcement statements such as, ‘So what you’re saying is…’, or
pass the voice over to another panelist with, ‘Thank you, Mike. Jane, I know
you have some experience here too…’.
Subtle body language works magic as well. Try a hand gesture which looks
like you want to contribute, or look the panelist in the eye and take a deep
breath as if you want to say something.
8. Conclude the panel by asking the reactors their comments and

insights.
When the time of your panel is almost up, make sure that you close the
discussion meaningfully. A powerful ending is as important as a powerful
opening.
Pose a final, concluding question and invite the panelists to answer it in

turn.
To ensure the panel discussion doesn’t drag on for another ten minutes,
ask a question that encourages brisk, to the point answers. Take inspiration
from political debates, where a moderator invites participants to wrap up
their arguments in a quick final statement.
9. Wrap up
While moderating a panel can be a toughie, the reward for a job well done
will be an engaging, dynamic conversation that’s valuable for both the
audience and the panelists themselves.
10. Ask for takeaways from the session.

Call two to three members of the class to share what they have learned
from the session.

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Education 13-Panel Discussion

“The Real Status of Status of Basic Education in the Country”

1. Know more about the topic/theme

3. Manage time effectively

4. Start with a powerful statement

think is cool or not.

6. Mix in audience questions throughout the debate/discussion/Invite

To make a conversation dynamic, get the questions from the audience/

The way to do it is inserting the incoming questions into the flow

Another way is to collect questions throughout the discussion and then

7. Don’t be afraid to cut the panelists off

“Setting expectations is really important here. Having met the panelists

you have some experience here too…’.

8. Conclude the panel by asking the reactors their comments and

Pose a final, concluding question and invite the panelists to answer it in

10. Ask for takeaways from the session.

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