Following the failures in traditional methods of teaching, theorists have recently emphasized students' active role in education in which the teacher is no longer a mere transmitter of knowledge. Discussion-based teaching has been regarded as a route to improving students' active role. The current study intended to discover the benefits of using discussion for social interaction and critical thinking disposition from Iranian students' perspective. Participants included 14 first-year educational psychology students who were selected through purposive sampling method. A general psychology course at the University of Tehran was held based on proposed patterns for class discussion. The data were collected through structured interviews, and analyzed through interpretive analysis. Findings showed that the components of critical thinking dispositions and social interaction were mostly exhibited during discussions. It seems that involvement of students in class discussions have benefits over the traditional realms of education. These positive effects are seen at personal and social levels, bringing forth more dynamic aspects of culture.Due to the increasing pace of scientific developments and growth in knowledge, universities are increasingly under pressure to present and transfer information. In this structure, the teachers are viewed as sources of information, whose job becomes to present information, while students are tasked only with reception of information, similar to a small library that is packed with books.The present research analyzed the use of discussion-based teaching style in a college class in Iran. It also attempted to examine this method of active learning in terms of developing critical thinking and social interaction in students. The results of this qualitative study revealed that the involvement of students in class discussions have benefits over the traditional academic education. These positive effects are seen at personal and social levels, bringing forth more dynamic aspects of culture. Real-life application of this method of teaching, the core of which relies on discussion groups, is the ultimate goal of this investigation.