Point/Counterpoint: Utilizing debate in the classroom to teach management, leadership, organizational behavior, and ethics

Keywords: Debate, Ethics, Critical Thinking

Abstract: This roundtable focuses on the use of classroom debates as a method to teach theories, concepts, and issues in several management-related disciplines. Debate assists students in developing and practicing critical thinking, communication and conflict resolution while exploring timely controversial issues. The use of debates in a classroom setting allows students to work collaboratively and cooperatively, gather and apply new information while creating one side of an argument. This roundtable will introduce the use of debates in the classroom, provide sample formats, and develop a list of potential debate topics related to multiple management related courses.