Using guided debates to teach current issues

Area of Science:

• Education
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Graduate-level courses require critical engagement with complex issues.
• Effective group decision-making and persuasive discussion skills are essential for students.
• The Jesuit method of discernment offers a framework for structured group deliberation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a guided-debate strategy for graduate-level courses.
• To encourage the use of current internet sources for understanding diverse opinions.
• To foster critical thinking about the quality of academic debate and consensus.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a guided-debate strategy in a graduate core course.
• Utilizing the Jesuit method of discernment for group decision-making.
• Encouraging students to research and present diverse viewpoints on current controversies.

Main Results:

• Students engaged in persuasive discussions on difficult topics.
• Critical thinking regarding the debate process and information quality was enhanced.
• Students learned to articulate reservations and concerns constructively within a group setting.

Conclusions:

• The guided-debate strategy effectively promotes critical thinking and nuanced discussion.
• This approach helps students navigate complex issues and diverse online information sources.
• It equips students with skills to express potentially challenging viewpoints productively.