Debate as an Online Learning Tool

Debate has been a tool historically used to help students learn about issues at all levels of education, as well as to illuminate all aspects of a subject in political arenas. In face to face course delivery, debates are easy to include during class time. However, debate can also be used in online courses as a way for students to discover all angles of a topic, such as the use of health information technology, which is mandated by 2015.  There are so many potential advantages and disadvantages to this topic that were difficult to fit in with the modular course structure. However, it is such a significant issue that will affect Nurse Practitioner practice that faculty felt it was important to include in some fashion. Thus, a debate was deemed an appropriate tool by which the students could explore this important issue.