Class Debate to Improve Class Participation Quality

Abstract

Studies have found that it is important to encourage class participation due to its benefits for both instructors and students, and the pursuit of this has led to a lot of effective strategies to increase students’ class participation (Smith 1992; Fassinger 1995). Despite the many efforts, in an actual classroom, class participation can sometimes be of...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems

Resource Type(s):

Class Activity

Class Level(s):

Any Level

Class Size(s):

Any

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will learn how to use sociological theories to form a holistic and critical understanding of the role that technological development plays in human societies.
2. Students will learn to better their critical thinking skills through this class activity which forces the student to view a topic from multiple perspectives while also playing "devil’s advocate."
3. Students will learn better teamwork and collaborative learning skills through the use of this activity.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. I ask the students to write a response paper of the same debate topic regarding the reading (10 points) after the debate. They are encouraged to use their "critical sociological thinking" in the writing.