This SET offers a mechanism to help students become actively engaged in discussion of instructor-designated books. The teacher selects 3-5 books on core course topics and develops reading guides with discussion questions specific to each book. Students are allowed to choose the book they wish to read and then join a 'Book Club' of 5-7 students that meet to discuss the book.

Although discussion must address the instructor-developed guide, students are also encouraged to generate their own discussion topics as they participate in an open, natural conversation about the book. Discussions can be held during face-to-face class time, outside of class, or online. When finished, each book club gives a formal presentation to the whole class, using their responses to the reading guide as the basis for a synthesis of what they learned.