Overused, Please Diverge.
Yes, yes. The discussion and activity the other day was rather frustrating. Multiple subjects are continuously written about and given solutions. Stem cell research, gay marriage, and evolution are discussed so many times. Every single person has their own opinion, and discussing the same topics with the same arguments does nothing. So, it is great opening students’ minds to a different perspective on how to handle issues. One thing that Yulia and I were discussing is asking the student why the issue is so divided. Then take a neutral standpoint for a little while and see both sides of the perspective. I love what Jenny said about offense. A person can only take offense, and somebody should not be offended to hear that someone else has a different opinion. Students can use this advice to explain their argument and understand the other side, which will only strengthen their argument.
Let’s get into some specifics here. About a month or so ago I read a few papers on stay-at-home moms. Both students really did not look at the other side or even different situations that the issue applies to. They did not realize that there are situations when a mother absolutely needs to work or that being a stay-at-home mom does not make you lazy and less intelligent. I told them that they needed to take a neutral stance for a moment and write arguments to both sides of the story, and then they can run with their ideas. I should have asked them to look at effects and consequences of their positions, but I did not think of this at that time. In other words, questions like what effect has women in the workforce had on child obesity, or what has women in the workforce done to promote new ideas, technology, and the growth of the civilization would have made these students think in new terms. Bringing up specifics like these makes the students think instead of giving the same, everyday argument they always give.
Another suggestion is do not get emotionally involved with an issue during a tutoring session. Like we have learned, it is not your job to educate your tutee on your opinions. It is only your job to help theirs. By using "help" I do not mean that you have to agree. Of course there are ethical concerns here. Ask them questions of why they think the way the do and usually this conversation will lead them to their own ideas of how to strengthen the argument. Do not spend an entire session arguing with a student. This will do nothing. Again, ask them questions and divert their one way thinking into a two way thinking pattern. Have empathy, or put yourself into their perspective, and advise them to do the same.
Let’s get into some specifics here. About a month or so ago I read a few papers on stay-at-home moms. Both students really did not look at the other side or even different situations that the issue applies to. They did not realize that there are situations when a mother absolutely needs to work or that being a stay-at-home mom does not make you lazy and less intelligent. I told them that they needed to take a neutral stance for a moment and write arguments to both sides of the story, and then they can run with their ideas. I should have asked them to look at effects and consequences of their positions, but I did not think of this at that time. In other words, questions like what effect has women in the workforce had on child obesity, or what has women in the workforce done to promote new ideas, technology, and the growth of the civilization would have made these students think in new terms. Bringing up specifics like these makes the students think instead of giving the same, everyday argument they always give.
Another suggestion is do not get emotionally involved with an issue during a tutoring session. Like we have learned, it is not your job to educate your tutee on your opinions. It is only your job to help theirs. By using "help" I do not mean that you have to agree. Of course there are ethical concerns here. Ask them questions of why they think the way the do and usually this conversation will lead them to their own ideas of how to strengthen the argument. Do not spend an entire session arguing with a student. This will do nothing. Again, ask them questions and divert their one way thinking into a two way thinking pattern. Have empathy, or put yourself into their perspective, and advise them to do the same.
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