Facilitating Debate
Have experienced instructors found it beneficial or detrimental to facilitate debates amongst learners in a business course setting?
Summer,
How would you react if they did not "play friendly" with each other?
Shaun,
I totally agree, it would be a terrible thing to have too strong of personalities in on the debate.
I feel that this could be "too risky" at times. You will have such differences of opinion that it could get out of hand.
Hi Summer,
Good advice, thanks for sharing it. Every student has paid to receive instruction and is entitled to the opportunity to express their opinions and ask questions. Some are more open and expressive than others but with skill an instructor can draw out the more withdrawn students and get them involved in the class.
Gary
Absolutely, as long as the debates are structured and each side is given a chance to be heard. One of the classes I teach is a Psychology class and it is a class with lots of debate and discussion. However, the ground rules of respect and tolerance are laid down on Day 1. As long as you are guiding students through the process, you should be fine.
And as for those “strong personality” students... If there is a class discussion where one or two students are dominating, playing Devil's Advocate with them can quiet them for a moment and give other students a chance to respond.
Not just in buisness course settings is that true.Have run into problems when there are to many strong personalities. Then it becomes who is on who's side.
