The Harkness method is a discussion-based teaching approach centered on a large oval table around which a small group of students, without a teacher lecturing from the front, leads its own examination of a text or problem, with the instructor guiding only lightly. It takes its name from Edward Harkness, whose 1930 gift to Phillips Exeter Academy funded the oval tables and the small class sizes the method requires, and it remains closely associated with Exeter and a number of other independent schools that later adopted the same format.
Facts
Central QuestionWhat happens to discussion and learning when a formal front-of-room teaching arrangement is replaced by students and teacher seated together around one oval table as equals? 1 Most Effective ForSchools with small class sizes, where the discussion format around one table remains practical 2 Connections
Associated With
Harkness Method's own live entity-description: Edward Harkness's 1930 gift to Phillips Exeter Academy funded the oval tables the method requires; it remains closely associated with Exeter.
Sources
1. Harkness, Phillips Exeter Academy
Building a better classroom section, quoting a 1931 instructorQuote, Building a better classroom section, quoting a 1931 instructor
Sitting in a group about a table instead of in formal rows of seats has abolished almost completely the stiff duality which used to obtain between instructor and class.
2. Harkness table, Wikipedia
Overview section, paragraph listing adopting schools
However, Harkness remains impractical for schools with larger class sizes.
In Group: Traditional and Dialogue-Based Teaching Systems, Lead
The Harkness table, Harkness method, or Harkness discussion is a teaching and learning method involving students seated in a large, oval configuration to discuss ideas in an encouraging, open-minded environment with only occasional or minimal teacher intervention.
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