Module 9
Teaching Controversial Issues in Coastal
and Marine Studies
Introduction
People need to make decisions everyday. Decision-making is an increasingly complex process and it is, therefore, essential that students are introduced to the range of skills and techniques required for informed decision-making. As citizens, students will eventually be expected to be well informed about aspects of environmental issues. They will also need to be able to make soundly based decisions. This workshop introduces participants to the nature of the controversial issues they face as citizens and the use of role play as one strategy for addressing these issues in the classroom.
Objectives
The objectives of the workshop are:- to introduce participants to the notion that decisions are made within
a political, social, cultural, economic and environmental context according
to perceptions, values and emotions;
- to discuss the nature of controversial issues and approaches to teaching
these issues that are appropriate in coastal and marine studies; and
- to examine the use of role play as a strategy for developing student
knowledge, skills, attitudes and awareness in coastal and marine studies.
Workshop Outline
There are five activities in this workshop:- Introduction
The workshop begins with an introduction to the workshop aims and objectives. Participants then play the 'MC Bingo Game' which introduces some aspects of controversial issues in coastal and marine studies. - Teaching Controversial Issues
A mini-lecture introduces the role of values in decision-making, the nature of controversial issues, and the range of ways in which they can be addressed in the classroom. - 'Whale Bay' Role Play
Role play is one useful strategy for exploring the variety of values and conflicts in a controversial issue. In this activity, participants take on the role of particular interest groups involved in deciding the future of a 'Whale Bay'. - Evaluating Role Play
This activity presents a list of advantages of using role play for teaching controversial issues and invites participants to evaluate the role play in Activity 3 as well as other experiences of using this technique. - Conclusion
Participants review principles for handling controversial issues and make plans for priority actions in the weeks following the workshop.
Materials Required
Overhead Transparencies |
|
| OHT 1 | Objectives of the Workshop |
| OHT 2 | Workshop Outline |
| OHT 3 | Dealing with Controversial Issues in the Classroom |
| OHT 4 | Whale Bay Public Meeting: The Motion |
| OHT 5 | Claimed Advantages of Role Play
|
Resources |
|
| Resource 1 | MC Game |
| Resource 2 | Four Stances on Controversial Issues: Teachers' Opinions |
| Resource 3 | Dealing with Controversial Issues in the Classroom |
| Resource 4 | 'Whale Bay': Background Information |
| Resource 5 | Role Cards for 'Whale Bay' |
| Resource 6 | Claimed Advantages of Role Play
|
Readings |
|
| Reading 1 | Approaching Controversial Issues in the Classroom |
| Reading 2 | Teaching Strategies and Methods |
Bibliography
Manuel, M., McElroy, B. and Smith, R. (1995) Coastal Conflicts: Our Future, Our World, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.Pennock, M. and Bardwell, L. (1994) Approaching Environmental Issues in the Classroom, National Consortium for Environmental Education and Training, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Stradling, R., Noctor, M. And Baines, B. (1984) Teaching Controversial Issues, Edward Arnold, London.