In boardrooms and C-suites all over the globe Diversity and inclusion are rapidly evolving from buzzwords and promises to realities.

While these discussions might be focused on the business, it’s important to remember that the decisions taken in these rooms affect everyone involved from the employees of the company, through the investors who own its shares, to the wider economy. With this in mind, these meetings are typically highly structured and adhere to an established set of rules (such as Robert’s Rules of Order) and protocols that ensure the meeting is conducted properly.

Boardrooms are designed to accommodate smaller groups of people. They typically seat between 8 to 20 individuals around the table, which allows face-to-face discussions and encourages unity. High-quality furniture and technology including advanced audiovisual systems and teleconferencing assist in creating the ideal environment for productive collaboration.

Discussion boards are an effective way to involve students in discussions that extend beyond the classroom, helping students see how their perspectives from outside are a part of the classroom learning experience. Instructors can begin by asking icebreakers to get students additional hints familiar with the responses of their peers. For example, Speer at Wichita State asks her students to introduce themselves by creating an emoji chain that describe their personalities and interests. Students are asked to read the responses of their classmates and then respond. Summarizing a discussion by highlighting important themes and ideas encourages students to follow the entire forum.