During the initial dialogue, the students go over the “rules” that will guide their cogens. Ideally this should happen as participants eat their lunch or a snack, in order to create an informal structure for the conversation. It is important for the teacher to let students know that these rules are simply guidelines to ensure that the cogen is successful and that all voices are heard; they are not punitive. Students should be assured that the rules apply as well to the teacher to ensure that he or she runs the dialogue appropriately.
