Academic Controversy

Academic controversy can be an effective instructional method that will actively engage students. According to Dr. David Johnson, conflicts that are managed constructively increase achievement, higher level thinking, cognitive and moral development, collaboration, and lead students to becoming more effective in dealing with future conflicts (Laureate Education, 2008).

In my work with educators, I plan to introduce academic controversy as a method of instruction that teachers can use with their students. I think an effective way to accomplish this is to have educators participate in their own academic controversy lesson. Because district wide standardized testing is coming up, I plan to engage educators in a lesson where they analyze the pro and con positions of standardized testing.

The procedures I plan to follow for this lesson are effectively outlined at the following website which also contains student handouts for the different steps as well as rubrics: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/classroom/controversy.html

The procedure will be as follows:
1. Organize the educators in groups of four.
2. Within the groups of four, two people will work cooperatively at coming up with a pro stance on standardized testing while the research pair works on a con position.
3. Educators will have access to laptops with internet access for research.
4. Each group of two is given an opportunity to present their arguments to each other with the group of four without comments or discussion.
5. Open discussion within the group of four with each side questioning the findings and conclusions of the other side
6. Research pairs will switch perspectives and adopt the alternate point of view.
7. Each pair presents the best arguments for the position they formerly opposed and listen to the other side.
8. The group of four now works together to formulate a new position that all the members of the group agree with.
9. The group prepares a report to share with the entire class.

Once I finish this lesson, I will engage educators in a discussion about the lesson. Topics will be explored such whether the lesson engaged them, how the procedures can be adapted for their students, the brainstorming of possible topics, and a discussion concerning the lesson elements that are necessary in order to successfully facilitate an academic controversy activity with their students.

The final step of this is to receive a commitment from educators that they will try an academic controversy lesson with their students and share their results with the group.

I think academic controversy is an excellent way to engage students in higher level thinking and rigorous academic work. At the same time, students learn important civic skills such as being able to work with others who do not share the same viewpoint as well as the ability to examine issues from another person’s perspective. In addition, students are given the opportunity to develop conflict resolution skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Resources:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). Program eight. Conflict Resolution [Motion picture]. Classroom management to promote student learning. Baltimore: Author.