Teaching
Controversial Issues:
Using
Debates and Mock-Meetings in High School Science Classes
Russ
Dudley and Mindi
Schneider
2005-2006 CSIP Fellows
In addition to
learning key concepts and principles in science, students
need an understanding of how science can both create and
inform controversies outside of the laboratory. This curriculum
provides a structure for using debates and mock-meetings
in high school classrooms to work through controversial
issues in science. The general structure of the curriculum
is as follows:
- Background
Reading: Select short and informative pieces
of background reading on a controversial topic, balancing
the number of PRO & CON positions represented.
- Event
Announcement: Create a “real world”
situation as the context for the meeting/debate. For example:
a town hall meeting, a public hearing, a city council
meeting, a share holder meeting, a grant funding board
meeting, etc.
- ‘Seeing
Both Sides’ worksheet: Have students develop
points and arguments for each side of the issue, moving
beyond personal opinions.
- Assign
Roles: Have students develop arguments based
on their assigned role. Encourage them to cite sources
of information.
- The
Event: Create a docket, having students present
their arguments individually in a point-by-point manner,
alternating between PRO and CON positions. After all presentations
are made, members of a pre-appointed panel ask questions.
Students should remain in their roles, and answer questions
accordingly.
- Reflection:
Have students write a 1-page reflection immediately following
the meeting/debate.
This curriculum
has been used in biology, general science, and agricultural
science classrooms. It can be completed in as few as a single
class period, although 3 to 5 class periods are ideal for
using the debate as a capstone for lessons that teach the
science behind the controversy.
Downloadable
WORD files:
Teacher's
Guide to Teaching with Controversial Issues
Examples
of Controversial Issues Involving Science
Materials specific
to conducting a town hall meeting to debate crop genetic
engineering and GMOs:
What
is Crop Genetic Engineering? (Teacher's Version)
Student Materials:
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