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"Is Change Accelerating?" debate

Sherry Atta

My classes just concluded the "Is Change Accelerating?" debate in Lesson 9.1. I find it interesting how my 8th graders seem to grasp the question and content so easily while it takes me a while to process it each year :) The discussion they have in preparing for the debate is amazing! I highly recommend it. Have any of you had any successes or failures with this debate?

  • Former Member
    Former Member
    I have not done this debate because we always seem to run out of time, but I think I'll see if I can add it in for next year. The kids really like debating, and this is an interesting topic!
  • I really like this debate. By the time we get to this debate, studehts have experience with the debate format and their arguments are so much stronger than at the start of the year. When I first started doing the debates, I thought it had potential to be an epic fail. I was so wrong! My students love the debates, and those who are usually quiet really shine. I require all students in the group present before someone can speak up a second time. It helps ensure everyone is involved. The debates have become a favorite among students. They are so passionate about winning the argument!
  • Adding on a bit more here :-) One of my classes was behind, so they had their debate yesterday, and I am just in awe at their enthusiasm with it. I think it's the competitive nature of a debate. Once again, I believe this is an activity that should not be missed. Attached are links to articles for both sides of the 'seed vault' argument to give you a feel for what they are finding and presenting.
    www.zmescience.com/.../
    gizmodo.com/the-problem-with-the-doomsday-seed-vault-1706093320
  • Wow! That is brilliant. I have tried the activity with varied success. But one thing the activity never fails to do is fire up the students and get them thinking. do you structure the discussions with your students before hand or do you just let it happen organically?
  • Hi Charles! Students in my classes have had a chance to have different types of discussions throughout the year. This one was structured exactly as explained the in the lesson in Unit 9: Lesson 9.2. We time everything as laid out in the plan. I'm attaching a copy of the notes my students put together during the debate. You can see a lot of detail even though they had limited time to get their research/evidence together. [Just a note: These are from last year. This year my students did not have access to computers during the debate due to testing so they used their phones instead. They still were able to amaze me!]

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