From Ben Casnocha from a friend:

You should say something in a group meeting only when (a) you are pretty sure you are right, (b) you have something to say that is different than what everyone else is saying (that doesn't mean you necessarily disagree - it could be additive), (c) what you have to say is important to the discussion.

Not terribly insightful but worth repeating. Unfortunately you can't assign property rights to silence. Although it would be interesting to give everyone in the class a chess timer and set the total amount of time to equal the length of the class period. I would add that in roundtable discussion you should have to summarize the views of the person before you before you can speak. Discussions don't work if the speakers aren't addressing each other.

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