SVUDL Staff Inspire Silver Creek High School Teachers with Tools for Debate-Centered Instruction
Over the course of the past three months, SVUDL staff presented a series of three 80-minute professional development sessions to twenty Silver Creek teachers from every subject area - Math, Science, English, History, and even Physical Education! Topics covered included, “Increasing Student Engagement and Voice: A Debate-Centered Approach,” “Building Student Reasoning: A Debate-Centered Approach,” and “Speech and Debate-Centered Activities in STEM Classrooms.”
But what exactly is a “Debate Centered” Approach to Instruction?
In competitive Speech and Debate, students offer claims backed by evidence in respectful and intellectually rigorous conversation. They learn to use reasoning to demonstrate how the evidence supports claims. Further, students are introduced to the habits of academic discourse as these claims are tested: they are taught to listen, communicate, and collaborate with peers in order to seek truth in the marketplace of ideas.
Debate Centered Instruction (DCI) takes the energy of a public debate into the classroom setting. Students learn to use observation and analysis to craft claims, find evidence, and offer reasons why the evidence supports their claims. They develop writing, communication, and listening skills that are crucial to college readiness.
DCI is not a curriculum. Rather, it is an instructional approach that provides tools for teachers in every subject area. It aims to help students develop proficiency in building, evaluating, questioning, and responding to arguments. Skill progression can be measured using the objectives which mirror the Common Core focus on argumentation across subject areas. As student voice and agency are centered in the learning process, student interest and engagement correspondingly increase.
Teachers were intrigued and excited by this introduction to a new pedagogical approach. Erica King, who oversees teacher professional development (PD) at Silver Creek High School, shared "It was some of the most thoughtful, intellectually interesting, and engaging PD I've seen." Veteran English teacher David Brodsky noted the PD was “career-changing.” He noted, “Dr. Burns, Rachel, Kwodwo--you all have provided a PD experience that [surpasses] every other PD I have ever participated in. Thank you. It wasn't just the material, but also your enthusiasm, intellect, and passion that has inspired me to learn more about debate.”
SVUDL will have the opportunity to build on its Professional Development work with teachers by leading two cohorts of East Side Union High School District educators through three days of Debate-Centered Instruction PDs in June and September.
