Arguing to Learn
“Confronting Cognitions in Computer Supported Collaborative Learning Environments”
Volume 1, Andriessen, J., Baker, M., and Suthers, D. (Ed) Kluwer Academic Publishers, ©2003.
Summary Review
We do not learn much by just listening to a teacher. We learn more by:
- Solving relevant, challenging and interesting problems
- By teaching others
- By having to defend a point of view
The book Arguing to Learn describes several experiments that used computer-based discussion environments to promote learning by argument.
The authors demonstrate how literacy levels improve when students are required to discuss controversial topics on-line. Nothing new there, but many of the experiments required students to argue a view that they did not personally hold, a situation that often occurs in a formal debate. The students found value in seeing things from other points of view. There was also value in having a well-structured learning environment, rather than a free-for-all chat session.
In Jermann and Dillenbourg’s paper, students were required to complete a set of questions in pairs. They were required to agree on an answer and to state reasons why. There was a noticeable improvement in the quality of their answers because of the ensuing argument/discussion.
Some thoughts on this:
- We don’t use argument enough in classrooms because we are so busy trying to cover the curriculum
- We are afraid of confrontation in the classroom and tend to minimise disagreements (a lost opportunity)
- How would argument-based learning work in an Asian context, where the important cultural elements are harmony and group concensus?
Learning by argument has a lot of potential and is something that is not utilised enough in e-learning. Food for thought…
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30 Dec 2006 at 2:41 am Link to this comment
[...] Footnote 2: When someone challenges you like this, it is good for learning. When you have to justify what you have done, it motivates you to do more reading and thinking. In schools, we don’t do enough of Arguing to Learn. Bookmark to: [...]