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11.2: Classroom Activity

  • Page ID
    261495
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    Scientific debate

    Students should prepare for the debate by gathering, reading, understanding, and referencing sources to support their side of the issue (You may want to select 2 or more resources for each side of the debate or have students use a database such as Opposing Viewpoints in Context for their in-class research, to find easily digestible information).

    Hold an in-class debate assigning two sides of a controversial scientific topic to the class. “This will help students understand different perspectives and how to support their arguments with scientific evidence” (Matrix0).

    Referencing the controversial topic at hand, respond to the following prompts:

    • State your position on the subject
    • Present scientific evidence
    • Discuss as a class, to try to come to an understanding on the topic

    ALA Frame: Research as Inquiry, Scholarship as Conversation

    (adapted from Matrix0 https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/improve-scientific-literacy-assignments-ideas-that-worked.711965/)


    This page titled 11.2: Classroom Activity is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Sarah Klein.

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