An E-Debate or a Time Bounded E-Discussion is a community-wide scheduled member engagement activity on a timely and topical subject of broad interest to members for a set period of time.
Use an E-Debate to encourage a broad, guided debate of a controversial issue for community members as well as to bring a more local or regional context to the table.
What is an E-Debate?
An E-Debate or a Time Bounded E-Discussion is a community-wide scheduled member engagement activity on a timely and topical subject of broad interest to members for a set period of time. For example, you might select 2 to 4 individuals to facilitate two sides of a controversial topic over a 2-week period. You can also assign opposing topics or approaches to be researched, presented, debated, or defended.
Why organize an E-Debate?
The E-Debate format encourages learning, sharing, dialogue, and interaction on a complex issue. An E-Debate could be tied to pros and cons on policy approaches, or could allow and facilitate the introduction of evidence from country case studies. In an international organization, e-debates being online and asynchronous, facilitate wide participation across multiple time zones.
Situations where you might want to hold an E-Discussion or an E-Debate include where you want to:
Encourage guided debate of a controversial issue for community members
Get more members engaged, perhaps allow them to vote positions up or down; ask for their help in validating pro or con positions
Bring more local and regional context to the table
How do you run an E-Debate?
Consider the following aspects of running an E-Debate:
Logistics/Preparation
The Core Team decides on a topic, brainstorms the structure of the e-debate and determines roles - who will support this community activity in what way.
The Community Manager announces to the community the upcoming e-debate (anticipatory note)
Run through
To kick off the debate, two to four facilitators introduce the issue, flesh out the two-sides and introduce documented background or perhaps two case studies, one pro, one con
Members are encouraged to contribute and the facilitators post as necessary, typically with questions, to spark additional thoughts and comments
At the end of the debate, facilitators summarize key insights, pros and cons, and share additional resources. (Recommended: a short survey to the members to get their feedback on the e-debate.)
Variations: the E-Debate could be "time bounded" (1-2 weeks), in real-time, or asynchronous, run as an online discussion on the Community Platform. Furthermore, the discussion could be left wide open, instead of focusing on two opposing sides or arguments.
Follow up
After the E-Debate, as with all community activities, make sure that you follow up, within 24 hours if possible, with notes and information about upcoming events. As a Core Team, reflect and use the insights for the next community activity.
Blog » Organizing an E-Debate
Organizing an E-Debate
Summary:
What is an E-Debate?
An E-Debate or a Time Bounded E-Discussion is a community-wide scheduled member engagement activity on a timely and topical subject of broad interest to members for a set period of time. For example, you might select 2 to 4 individuals to facilitate two sides of a controversial topic over a 2-week period. You can also assign opposing topics or approaches to be researched, presented, debated, or defended.
Why organize an E-Debate?
The E-Debate format encourages learning, sharing, dialogue, and interaction on a complex issue. An E-Debate could be tied to pros and cons on policy approaches, or could allow and facilitate the introduction of evidence from country case studies. In an international organization, e-debates being online and asynchronous, facilitate wide participation across multiple time zones.
Situations where you might want to hold an E-Discussion or an E-Debate include where you want to:
How do you run an E-Debate?
Consider the following aspects of running an E-Debate:
Logistics/Preparation
Run through
Variations: the E-Debate could be "time bounded" (1-2 weeks), in real-time, or asynchronous, run as an online discussion on the Community Platform. Furthermore, the discussion could be left wide open, instead of focusing on two opposing sides or arguments.
Follow up
After the E-Debate, as with all community activities, make sure that you follow up, within 24 hours if possible, with notes and information about upcoming events. As a Core Team, reflect and use the insights for the next community activity.
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