Debating the value of debates

Regular readers of this blog will be aware that I am always on the lookout for new formats with which to convey ideas and encourage participation. Perhaps my keenest activity on this front is to experiment with the use of interviews, both within live events (face-to-face or online) and as a form of packaged content. Another idea that I had an opportunity to try out last week was the formal debate.

The event was a one-day conference run by the eLearning Network on rapid e-learning. The debate ran for one hour in the afternoon and worked like this:

1. A motion was proposed, in this case 'that rapid e-learning represents as much a threat to the e-learning community as it does an opportunity'.
2. Two speakers spoke for the motion and two against. Each pair had ten minutes to present their case.
3. Each pair then had an additional five minutes to respond to the issues raised by their opponents.
4. The audience then had a chance to make fresh points and ask for clarification from the speakers.
5. The audience then voted for or against the motion.

This format was a bit of a gamble because there are some clear advantages and disadvantages:

For:

• The idea of a debate attracted participants to the event as well as press.
• Participants got a break from PowerPoint.
• The issues surrounding the motion came out loud and clear.
• The speakers were challenged to clarify their views which contributed to the above.
• The element of competition raised the attention levels quite a bit.

Against:

• The speakers had to take a more polarised position than they would probably hold normally.
• The element of competition adds a degree of risk as far as the speakers are concerned - after all, it's not nice to lose.
• It's not always easy to find an issue which is sufficiently controversial and on which participants are likely to have mixed views.

Taking all this into account the debate did work. The event was sold out and happy sheets showed this to be a popular item. As for the result of the debate itself, well the audience voted pretty convincingly against the motion - rapid e-learning does pose some risks, but they  are easily outweighed by the opportunities.