Navigating Discourse through Controversy in the Classroom
Keywords:
controversy in the classroom, working with students, class discussion strategies, differing opinionsAbstract
Social studies is an evolving subject that encompasses controversial issues including abortion, gun control, substance legalization, LGBTQ, civil rights issues, and more. To elevate discourse, teachers have a myriad of ways to elicit thought-provoking discussions among students. Strategies for discussing controversial issues include creating a positive environment where students do not feel judged for expressing their views, cooperative learning, reciprocal teaching, debate, and discussion. Cooperative learning forces individuals to respect the viewpoint and work habits of classmates. Debate and discussion are also effective discourse methods because students must accurately represent positions on issues. This is done through research of reputable sources guided by teacher instruction and moderation to facilitate an inclusive and productive discussion. Instruction and moderation are demonstrated below.
References
Lintner, T. (2017, November 30). The controversy over controversy in the Social Studies Classroom. SRATE Journal. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1166700
Pace, J. L. (2022, December 19). Learning to teach controversial issues: A path forward. Learning Forward. https://learningforward.org/journal/teaching-in-turbulent-times/learning-to-teach-controversial-issues-a-path-forward/
Indiana University. (2023). Managing difficult classroom discussions. Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. https://citl.indiana.edu/teaching-resources/diversity-inclusion/managing-difficult-classroom-discussions/index.html
Resource guide: Strategies for student discourse - New Mexico public ... (2022). https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Strategies-for-the-Discourse-Guide-for-Social-Studies.pdf
Si , S. (2022). Critical Democratic Education: A case study on controversy deliberation ... https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9865&context=etd
Uygun, K., & Arslan, I. E. (2020). Students’ opinions about teaching of the controversial topics in the social studies classes. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), 9(2), 335–340. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v9i2.20446