Debate
Students need to take a stand on a specific topic or statement.
- Small groups (3-10)
- Large groups (>10)
- 30-60 minutes
- >60 minutes
- Activating prior knowledge
- Assessment
- Discussion
- Apply
- Evaluate
When to use it?
- When you want to encourage students to look beyond their own point of view.
- When you want students to actively think about the study material.
- When you want to encourage discussion between students.
- When you want students to structure their knowledge or ideas.
- When you want to encourage students to look beyond their own point of view.
Activity instructions
Preparation
- Formulate a statement on a topic that is suitable for a debate.
Activity steps
- Make groups
Divide the students into two groups: One group is in favour of the statement (pro) and the other group is against the statement (con).
- Prepare
Give the students about 15 minutes to prepare their arguments. - Present arguments
Let the two groups present their arguments to defend their side of the statement. - Present counter-arguments
Let the two groups present counter-arguments to the arguments that were stated by the opposing group. - Present rebuttal
Let the two groups present their rebuttal. This can take several rounds. - Discuss
End with a plenary session in which the most important arguments are discussed.
Tips for implementation & variation
- Online teaching: The subgroups can work in breakout rooms.
- It's also possible to organise an asynchronous debate. In that case, students can write down their arguments in Brightspace or FeedbackFruits or they can create videos that other's need to react to.
- It's a good idea to appoint a moderator for the debate.
- You can choose to let the two groups switch roles after the first debate.
- If you divide the group in advance, students can already prepare their standpoints before class.
Supporting tools