Harkness.

Kurt recently referenced an article on the Harkness Method which detailed the benefits of face-to-face discussion in the classroom.

In my experience there are three reasons why the approach is an effective one ... 

1. Student thought and participation drives the exploration.  As Socrates said, the role of a teacher is to work themselves out of a job, making students learning more self-directed and purposeful.
2. The Harkness/Socratic Method removes any bias and/or gaps present in the teacher's understanding that would otherwise hinder the potential of student growth.  This, hopefully, transforms everyone in the room into a learner.
3. Most importantly, students must learn and respect the basic rules of what we call "scholarly discourse" in order to maximize the potential of the learning experience. Listening and inquiry play a greater roles than pronouncements in producing depth.  

Applied in a classroom, a newsroom, or breakroom, the method works because it teaches a critical and respectful approach to the clash of ideas.