In a panel discussion, members engage in discourse with one another, observed by the audience. Group members sit at a table and speak as if conversing among themselves, while the audience watches and listens. There may be time for audience questions after the discussion, but the panel members’ primary role is to speak, and the audience’s primary role is to listen. For example, a professor might ask a team of students to come back the next semester and conduct a panel discussion for a new class about a research project they successfully conducted.

A panel discussion usually requires a moderator who introduces each panelist (participant) and facilitates the discussion. The moderator’s role is similar to that of a leader in a group discussion. He or she monitors the time, asks questions that keep the discussion moving, and ensures that each panel member has an opportunity to participate. A moderator also may participate in the discussion, although he or she should not dominate the presentation.

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Panel participants, too, should contribute to the discussion without monopolizing the presentation. It is important to participate if you have special experience or expertise with the point being made. If you have less information on a given issue or you have been speaking more than other members, give other panelists the opportunity to talk. Also, be tactful and professional when disagreeing with another member’s point.

The atmosphere in a panel discussion is usually more casual than that in a symposium, and panelists may interact with the speaker, make comments, or ask questions. Talk about the panel discussion in advance with your group so that you all know which questions or topics you want to bring up. That way, the group will be well prepared and able to prioritize the most important issues to be covered.