Education Commons^™

Using Debate To Maximize Learning Potential: A Case Study, Michael W. Firmin, Aaron Vaughan, Amanda Dye

Psychology Faculty Publications

Following a review of the literature, an educational case study is provided for the benefit of faculty preparing college courses. In particular, we provide a transcribed debate utilized in a General Psychology course as a best practice example of how to craft a debate which maximizes student learning. The work is presented as a model for the principles of not building straw-men arguments, not shying away from controversial topics, giving politically-incorrect viewpoints fair treatment, making a crisp presentation that students will take seriously, and exemplifying gender-equity and aggressive female role-modeling. Reparative therapy and homosexual orientation was the debate’s topic.