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1,700+ Easy Topics for Group Discussion With Your Students

Are you looking for new and exciting ways to keep your students on their toes? It can often be time-consuming and overwhelming to always search for engaging topics for group discussion for your students. 

All educators know the importance of group participation on learning outcomes. Thought-provoking group discussions not only engage students, these conversations facilitate active learning, help students develop critical thinking skills, and promote effective communication. 

Having unique topics for group discussion at your fingertips will capture your students’ interest and motivate them to have meaningful conversations with their classmates. Also, it keeps things more exciting for you as the instructor!

Discover why having a repertoire of topics for group discussion will benefit your community  (whether it be online or in-person) and why group discussions are an important part of the learning process for students. With over 1700 ideas to choose from, we promise there are group topics for every educator in our list.

Continue reading or skip ahead: 

Within the categories listed above, you’ll find even more subcategories containing a ton of topics and questions to spark some stimulating conversations. Let’s dive in!

Related: The 5 Most Effective Teaching Styles (Pros & Cons of Each)

Benefits of group discussions

The purpose of having interesting discussion topics in a course is to provide ample opportunities for students to interact with the course content, each other, and the instructor. 

If you have a list of topics for group discussion ready to go beforehand, this will help you feel more prepared as the instructor and allow for your sessions to run smoothly. Plus, initiating group discussions are a great way to hear student thoughts and feedback, letting you know what stage they are at in their learning. 

Topics for group discussion don’t always have to be serious. Group discussions can be used as icebreakers or as a way to kill a bit of extra time. They can also be a source of entertainment or spark interesting debates. 

Helping your students feel compelled to participate in group discussions has proven to be beneficial in more ways than one:

There is more personal involvement with group discussions as students will often share their own personal life experiences. This can be extremely powerful as these interactions build relationships through creating an inclusive and supportive environment. Group discussions foster a positive and collaborative community where respect and trust are nurtured.

In-person vs. online group discussions

Group discussions are commonly used in learning environments that are in-person and are an effective way to improve classroom participation. Group discussions are also a great method to foster social presence in online learning environments, such as through having relatively small breakout groups and discussion boards.

There are already certain barriers to learning in an online community – such as self-motivation, distractions, and isolation to name a few – which is why it is even more crucial to engage your students in a fun and meaningful way. 

Introducing new topics to discuss in a group at the beginning of each class could be the key to making your online course effective. Social interactions, especially in online learning communities, foster impactful connections and involvement between your students. 

Spice up your learning community’s interactions by throwing in some thought-provoking and interesting topics to discuss in your next group session. 

Related: What Are Learning Communities? (Examples, Types & Best Practices)

How to choose the best group discussion topic 

Now that we’ve gone over the benefits of group discussion, let’s uncover the best methods for choosing different topics for group discussions. 

Group discussion topics are conversation starters that can help your students think critically about learning outcomes. Or, they can simply be for entertainment and to encourage group collaboration. You’ll want to choose your topics based on what your desired outcome is for your students. 

Things to be mindful of: 

With the list of topics for group discussion that we’ve created, you’ll never have to worry about brainstorming another topic to talk about with your students again – all you have to do is choose the category that is the most applicable to your course. 

Group discussion topics to avoid

Depending on the nature of your learning community, there are a few topics that you may decide to avoid when having a group discussion. Be weary of controversial topics that may hinder communication within your group, as certain subjects can lead to heated arguments.

The last thing you want as an educator is to disrupt group dynamics and cohesion. Ruptures in group processes can be difficult to repair, so unless you take extra precautions, steer clear of topics you think might provoke strong emotions in students (although if this is the nature of your course – then go for it). 

Some examples of these topics include:

If you’re not sure whether or not a topic is appropriate for discussion, then it’s always best to err on the side of caution.

Related: 22 Top AI Quiz and Exam Generators to Test Your Students Knowledge With Ease

7 success tips for group discussions

Before we introduce our lengthy list of topics for group discussions to have with your students, let’s go over some important success tips that’ll help you make the most out of your future classroom conversations. 

Here’s a few tips on how you can approach group discussions, whether online or in person, to ensure everyone has a worthwhile experience: 

  1. Create an inclusive environment

Creating an inclusive environment for learning sets the foundation for how interactions in your classroom will develop. The effective facilitation of a group discussion involves recognizing that there will be many different perspectives and skill sets.

Tips on creating an inclusive environment:

Providing an inclusive learning environment will allow for deeper group discussions and make your learning community more cohesive. 

  1. Make sure everyone has a chance to speak

When leading a group discussion, the one thing you don’t want happening is for one student to monopolize the conversation completely – the benefit of having a group discussion is to listen and hear everyone’s unique perspective on the topic!

One of the most important aspects of a successful group discussion is making sure that everyone has a chance to share their thoughts and opinions. If certain students  are dominating the discussion, actively call on others to move along the conversation. 

Pro tip: Call on students (if they are comfortable speaking) alphabetically to make sure everyone who wants to speak has an opportunity. This is especially useful to help engage students who are more shy and need a little encouragement. 

  1. Encourage students to ask questions 

Questions are what keep group conversations alive – actively encourage student participation to help keep the flow of the conversation steady. This also promotes listening and critical thinking skills. 

This can be done by getting students to ask or write down follow-up questions to share with their peers, allowing  them to voice their thoughts and opinions. It may also be beneficial for you as the instructor to initiate some questions to help bring out your students’ ideas further.

  1. Have an open mind and keep discussions positive

At the beginning of each session, clarify the goals and expectations of group discussions by establishing some ground rules for the group.

Group rules can include:

In some group discussions, conflicts may arise. It’s important to remember that not everyone is going to have the same opinion, and that’s okay. What’s important is that students can listen to other’s thoughts and perspectives and promote a positive learning environment. 

  1. Identify potential problems

While unlikely, problems in groups can arise depending on the group and the nature of the topic. For this reason, it’s important to be familiar with some common scenarios just in case. 

Some potential problems in group discussions include:

Acknowledging potential problems before they turn into something more serious will allow for a more enjoyable group experience for everyone. 

  1. Provide feedback for students 

Let your students know how they did in the group discussion. Offering individual constructive feedback can help your students feel more included and motivated to participate during future group discussions. 

  1. Create discussion forums

Discussion forums are essential to learning communities because they give students a place to keep the conversation going, allowing them to generate more ideas on the topic. Discussion forums also help foster connection and engagement between your students, creating an even stronger community atmosphere. 

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Adult Learning Theory: Knowles’ Principles & More

1700 topics for group discussion categorized

For educators looking for extra inspiration, Thinkific also offers group discussion topic generators to aid you in the process of developing high-quality courses. Check these generators out here: 

Below we have listed over 1700 topics for group discussion, with the help of AI, which are categorized into different subjects to make it easier for you to refer back to. 

Skip ahead to whichever category is most relevant for your course and students:

Without further ado, let’s explore these unique topics for group discussion: 

  1. Fun icebreakers

  1. Personal questions

  1. Health and fitness

  1. Interests and hobbies 

  1. Cooking and food 

  1. Creativity and innovation

  1. Art and expression 

  1. Culture 

  1. Relationships 

  1. Technology and innovation

The impact of social media on our lives

The pros and cons of technology

Thoughts on the internet

Favorite online resources

  1. Grade school 

Elementary school students 

Kindergarten (age related topics)

High school students

  1. Education 

The changing landscape of education

English literature

History

Mathematics

Science

Music

  1. Ethical dilemmas 

Global dilemmas 

Animal welfare

  1. Business

Marketing

Sales

  1. Growth and development 

Connection

Wellbeing

Spirituality 

  1. Social issues

Diversity and inclusion

Current events

  1. Easy and entertaining

Simple topics 

Funny ideas

Would you rather

  1. Young adult

Conclusion 

There you have it! Our list over over 1700 topics for group discussions that’ll help you build an engaging learning community, no matter which course you teach. 

These topics for group discussion can be a great way to bring your students together, creating a positive environment where they can openly discuss course content, apply their learnings, and ask questions. Initiating group discussions also helps you get a pulse check on what your students want to learn from you as the instructor. 

Remember that when building an online learning community, it’s important to outline community guidelines — helping to improve communication, avoid conflict, and prevent chaos in your learning community. Keep an open mind, be respectful, and make sure that everyone has a chance to speak. 

With these tips and ideas on topics for group discussion, you’ll be well on your way to having many successful group conversations!


This blog was originally posted in July 2023, it’s since been updated to include more ideas and info in October 2024.