Harkness table

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.

The Harkness method is in use at many American boarding schools and colleges and encourages discussion in classes.

Developed at Phillips Exeter Academy,[1] the method's name comes from the oil magnate and philanthropist Edward Harkness, who presented the school with a monetary gift in 1930.

However, Harkness remains impractical for schools with larger class sizes.

Harkness described its use as follows: Harkness practices can vary, most notably between humanities subjects such as English and history and technical subjects such as math and physics.