Debates can be useful in helping students recognize and overcome the biases they bring to certain topics and in affording them opportunities to hone public speaking skills. In large classrooms, teachers can require students to prepare portions of the debate for homework and form larger debate teams. To guarantee that all students participate, you can require students in the audience to critique debates and to vote both before and after them. If your students will be debating controversial issues that may spark emotional reactions, discuss appropriate classroom behavior well before the debate begins. Remind your students to challenge ideas , rather than the personal integrity or character of their peers.
Teachers can utilize plays to communicate much of the information that lectures typically cover.
Groups of students might enjoy performing play scripts their teachers have written for them or writing their own scripts. Asking your students to write and perform a play that teaches a certain concept allows them to see how challenging teaching can be. Be sure to have your students evaluate their own and others' performances. Discuss why certain sections of the plays were more effective than others. Most instructors recognize early in their careers that the ability to understand and manipulate concepts does not necessarily translate into the ability to teach those same concepts to someone else.