Debating In The Math Classroom

When I heard about incorporating debate into the math classroom, I thought "It can't be done."  Debating is something you do as a class or you do it when running for a political position but in the math classroom?

Debate is something that can be incorporated in the math classroom. It also meets MP3 which encourages students to construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.

Debating does take preparation prior to the actual day and it can also take up most or all of a period to do.  It allows students to create points in support of  or against a mathematical proposition.  Debating gives students a chance to develop and synthesize ideas while creating arguments to support their side of the proposition.  The process means they have to utilize ideas they understand and can explain.

In addition, to prepare students have to collaborate, research, and combine ideas into coherent arguments. Debate can be used to review material in preparation for a test.  Imagine asking students to debate substitution versus elimination as being the best method to use to solve systems of linear equations.

Students do not have start with a full blown debate with the two minutes to give their points and 30 seconds for rebuttal.  It is possible to ease students into debating using "Which one does not belong?" to a variety of others.

There are several formats that can be used in the classroom.  Some are quite easy to use while others require a bit more work.  For instance, there is the four corner debate method.  The teacher makes four signs with strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree written on them and placed in the four corners of the room.  Students are divided into groups before the teacher reads a statement.  The groups discuss the statement, prepare an argument, before going to stand in the corner with their level of agreement or disagreement.  Students then share their reasoning.

Tag-Team debate. The teacher creates two groups with no more than five students in each one.  The teacher provides a statement, the groups are given time to prepare and when the debate begins, each student is given one minute to present their part of the argument, then the other team gets their turn and then back to the first team gets to speak but the first speaker must tag the next speaker before they can go up to continue the argument.  The same applies to the other team and it goes back and forth until they have finished presenting their arguments.  If they cannot do it with the 5 people, they can start again with the first speaker.

Inner circle - outer circle debate.  The teacher divides the students into two equal groups.  One group sits in a circle facing outward, while the other group forms a circle around them facing inward towards them.  The teacher reads the statement to be debated.  The inner circle is given 10 to 15 minutes to discuss the topic while the outer circle listens and write downs arguments based on the inner circle discussion.  The outer circle cannot talk during this process.  Then the outer circle gets to discuss the topic, their arguments for 10 to 15 minutes , while the inner circle listens and takes notes.
At the end, both groups share their arguments and counter arguments like a debate.  Once this is done, they are done.

The fishbowl debate occurs when the teacher appoints several students to sit in a semi circle at the front of the room.  The teacher reads a statement or poses a question and the students at the front discuss it but students from the audience may pose questions to the students at the front but otherwise may not speak.  Students may switch out from the front with someone in the audience and the discussion continues.  This works best for prior knowledge.

The ball debate.  Divide the students into two groups, then rearrange the desks so there are equal numbers on each side of the room.  The teacher poses the question or the statement and then have the students sit on the desks based on their position to the question or statement.  The for group is on one side and the against on the other side.  After giving them a few minutes to think, the teacher throws a ball to one student on one side.  Only the student with the ball can speak.  When they are done, they throw the ball to the other side so a student there and speak.  They go back and forth till the teacher determines they are done.

Have fun incorporating debating in the classroom.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.