To conduct a large Group Discussion you need some procedure to create order. Without order, you may have a rather chaotic channel with multiple-individual conversations with participants speaking all over each other. The following simple procedure simulates typical class group discussion using basic etiquette for discussion:

• The Instructor takes the role of the Discussion Moderator. As in face-to-face discussion, the Moderator can make statements to the whole group or address individuals. The Moderator also determines who among the group will speak and in what order.
• All who wish to speak -- to "have the floor" -- must raise their hand. To do this on IRC, hit the Exclamation key: ! and then wait for the Moderator to call on them.
• Whoever speaks communicates in short statements. The Speaker uses Ellipses to indicate continuation of speaking: .....
• When finished, the Speaker types: Done or uses normal end punctuation.
• The Moderator then comments, questions the Speaker or calls on another Speaker.