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Students learn about a particular environmental issue from
multiple perspectives by interacting both online and face-to-face
with their peers about a topic in assigned “stakeholder”
roles. Students gain an appreciation about the complexity
of the issue being examined as they are exposed to different
viewpoints about the topic other than their own.
The round-table exercise (implemented over 4-weeks) involves
four main activities:
- Each student conducts their own research about the topic
in general and from the particular perspective of the stakeholder
role they are assigned. A “stakeholder position paper”
is submitted by each student.
- Students examine the other stakeholder position papers
and post one question from their own stakeholder position
to each of the other stakeholders.
- Students meet face-to-face to present their position paper
and then try to reach consensus on an issue raised by the
facilitator (who has selected one of the contentious issues/questions
presented in the online discussion).
- The exercise is concluded by students reflecting on their
learning experience.
Students are given access to a broad range of online and
hard copy reading materials. They are also encouraged to find
their own resources.
The teacher serves as a facilitator of the discussion and
negotiation process. He/she briefs the students of the task,
allocates the roles to each student, serves as a moderator
in the online discussion, and chairs the final face-to-face
meeting and debrief session.
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