Sarah Croker

Touchstones Discussion Project

Touchstones Discussion Project: Building critical thinkers and collaborative leaders with discussion-based curricula. In 1984, three professors (tutors) from St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, Geoffrey Comber, Nick Maistrellis, and Howard Zeiderman, joined forces to better understand the benefits and barriers encountered in discussion-based learning. Their inquiries led to the formation of the Touchstones Discussion Project. Today, Touchstones programs are implemented with many diverse demographics and in a wide range of educational and professional settings around the world. In their examination of the varied success of discussion-based learning in particular groups, the three founders intensively and thoroughly investigated the socio-behavioral and cultural habits that influence how people see themselves as viable and legitimate voices in discussion. They explored the particular impediments that typically hinder authentic discussion and shared inquiry as attempted in other "seminar" type programs. With our train-the-trainer technique and fully developed program curricula, Touchstones is readily used by educators and community leaders around the world to empower the populations they serve in English, Spanish, French, Haitian Kreyol, Arabic, and Burmese. Researched in Pittsburgh, Maryland, New York, and Delaware, Touchstones' proven results and highly engaging format have made it an attractive tool among adult groups as well. Today, our programs reflect 37 years of research and development from thousands of implementation sites. In Touchstones, participants find their voice and their dignity, experience the value of their own thinking, and discover a sense of belonging and purpose.