week 14, Question 1

A forum panel, colloquium, and symposium are all composed of some of the same elements, but the way they are performed and delivered is different. For example in a forum the audience gets very involved with the speakers. It's more of a public discussion. A group delivers a speech on a topic or problem and the audience then participates by commenting. The audience members can say if they agreed or disagreed with what was said or they can even offer suggestions or argue the main point. The forum format is often seen in town meetings and public hearings. A panel is different than a forum. In a panel a small group of four to eight experts discuss a problem or decision in front of an audience. There is a moderator who starts the meeting by explaining the format to the audience, introduces the speakers, keeps time and sometimes summarizes the speakers points. The panel never have direct with the audience. In a colloquium the form is a public discussion in which a group of three to six experts, that are usually chosen for their divergent views, discuss a problem in front of an audience with a mediator facilitating their interaction. The purpose of a colloquium is to identify, develop, and work through possible solutions to a problem for the benefit and with the participation of the audience. A symposium is made up of two to six brief speeches made on different aspects of a difficult problem. The speakers are usually experts in different areas related to the problem. The speeches are well prepared and uninterrupted by the audience. If I were to chose one form of discussion I would chose forum because I think that hearing different viewpoints from the audience is more helpful than speaking and not hearing what people really thought of what you said. Some of the comments might be hard to hear, but it will be more helpful than not hearing it at all.