What's included
1 live meeting
1 hrs 30 mins in-class hours per weekHomework
1-2 hours per week. Team members should plan to spend one to two hours a week preparing for their upcoming debate with research and argumentation preparation.Assessment
If requested, grades and assessments are available. All assignments must be completed in order to receive grade or assessment.Grading
If requested, grades and assessments are available. All assignments must be completed in order to receive grade or assessment.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
In this weekly, ongoing debate club students will work in teams to develop their debate skills. They will be assigned topics and teams in the classroom each week prior to class and can research their topics to prepare argumentation and evidence and support to back up their arguments ahead of time. In class, learners will have time to prepare their debates with their team at the start of class and to engage in a full debate each week. For 90 minutes we will practice our debate skills and critique each other. Each week will focus on different skills, such as how to think quickly and format a strong argument when rebutting, or how to present a solid original argument with structure and focus, or even how to throw off our opponent during a debate. The critical importance of respect for others opinions and kindness in argumentation will be present throughout the class, but we also plan to have lots of fun in this club. There will be games to play, such as rebuttal tennis and we will laugh often and much! The week prior to class the format and topic of the next week will be posted in the classroom to allow learners to prepare, research, or consider arguments ahead of time, should they choose. The classes will not build on each other though. This ongoing course is designed to simply be a fun, interactive way to practice our argumentation, oratory and presentation skills in a safe and supportive environment. Learners are encouraged to drop in or opt out for any weeks that will not work or topics or formats that are of less interest. In short, team debate club is a fun, low stress club for those who just love to argue and whose siblings and families want a break! Come join the fun!!
Learning Goals
Students will learn to how to research and become informed on various topics, how to chose persuasive argumentation, how to organize and present their ideas as persuasively as possible, and how to work within a team environment, all while having fun!
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am a human rights lawyer by profession and a university professor and mom by passion. I have my JD with a specialization in international law and completed my PhD in international law in 2023.
I have travelled the world working for the UN as a human rights attorney and now travel the world with my two children while I consult for the UN and teach at universities around the globe. My home base is in San Francisco, and my University employer is in Sweden. I am passionate about teaching human rights and global issues to everyone from children to adults. No one is too young to understand the importance of human rights and it is never too early to learn about our world, our differences and our shared values as humans on this planet. I love sharing this passion. My children also learn on Outschool and I love sharing my knowledge and passion on Outschool as well.
My teaching style includes discussion and project style learning. I love interaction, but if you want to sit and soak it all in quietly, that’s ok by me too.
An important note about inclusiveness: One of the most important elements of my classes is inclusiveness. ALL are welcome, accepted and included in my courses. Part of learning in my classroom includes learning to make space for everyone. This may mean allowing extra time for learners who need to type answers for example. It also means allowing for all learning styles and having patience when learners might make mistakes and try again with encouragement and compassion from the whole class. This tolerance for diversity is provided, respected and expected in my classroom.
Some important administrative notes:
1) I am rarely able to accommodate schedule requests. Please leave them as when making up future schedules I will try to look at past requests and do my best. However, I work full time for a University, publish and travel to conferences often and usually live in three different time zones a year. On top of that, I homeschool my children and consult for the United Nations. I love teaching on Outschool so much, but am forced to limit my hours during the week in order to fit everything in. I am sorry!
2) due to the busyness of my schedule and the large number of messages I receive it can take me time to respond. I will likely not respond to schedule requests. My priority in response times will always be my students. I will try very hard to respond right away to them. My second priority will be parents of current students as they likely have an issue that needs immediate attention. After that I will do my best to respond. However, know that I travel a lot, so it may take some days for me to return your email, I sincerely apologize for this, I am just trying to make it all work, just like we all are. (Too many balls in the air....this juggling act of life is rough, right?) Thank you for your patience and understanding. It is priceless.
My Class Offerings:
UPPER ELEMENTARY - these classes are designed to engage upper elementary and middle schoolers in critical thinking skills and civic involvement. They are active in nature and involve project based learning.
LIVE COURSES - these are classes which meet weekly at a specific time. They are ongoing in nature and can be joined at any time. They will cycle through and begin again, and you can always check ahead to see where we are in the cycle.
1) Great or Terrible Leaders: You Decide! - an ongoing course which studies global historical leaders throughout time, this class aims to engage students to think about what leadership means and what traits or characteristics are needed to truly be a great leader.
2) Micro Nation: Create Your Own Country! - In this class learners get the chance to create their own unique realm while learning about what makes a country a country - from law to government, language to culture, learners explore what it takes to build a nation. At the end, each learner will have the chance to present their very own Micro-Nation at our 'World's Fair'.
FLEX COURSES - these are asynchrosus and taught by video and online written interaction. They include one office hour per class section where you can show up on a flexible or as-needed basis to tough base and have facetime connection if needed.
1) It's All Perspective: History Depends on Who Is Telling It - This 4-week class is designed to help students to analyze historical information and consider the perspective from which it has been reported. Concepts such as bias, perspective, primary and secondary sources, corroboration and more are explored.
2) Micro Nation: Create Your Own Country! - In this 8 week class learners get the chance to create their own unique realm while learning about what makes a country a country - from law to government, language to culture, learners explore what it takes to build a nation. At the end, each learner will have the chance to present their very own Micro-Nation at our 'World's Fair'.
3) Great or Terrible Leaders: You Decide! - a 10 week course which studies global historical leaders throughout time, this class aims to engage students to think about what leadership means and what traits or characteristics are needed to truly be a great leader.
MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL OFFERINGS:
1) Water School: The Ways Water and Humankind Affect Each Other - This 7-week course is designed to teach learners to ultimately respect and understand the importance of water. It will encourage critical thinking from all aspects - how water effects learners individually, their homes, their families, their communities. The course comes at the topic of water in an interdisciplinary way, learning about water scientifically, sociologically, economically and culturally in order to ultimately allow learners to critically analyze the importance of water and how our treatment of it impacts themselves and the world they live in.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$22
weekly1x per week
90 min
Completed by 72 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-16
8-16 learners per class