Make a “Deliberations” Site

Purpose:

Using the C-SPAN Classroom Deliberations site as a model, students can create their own online wiki using web-based software such as Google Sites. By researching and selecting points of view that outline both sides of an issue, students learn to weigh opinions from multiple perspectives before making their own informed decisions.

Directions:

  1. In teams or individually students choose a “deliberation question, using the questions on the C-SPAN Classroom Deliberations site as examples. 
    1. Students format their question so it can be supported with “for” or “against” research.
  2. Students research programming videos in the C-SPAN Video Library for background information on the issue. 
    1. They select one or more clips that explain the background of the issue and set in and out points on the clip. 
    2. If needed, direct students to this tutorial to learn about searching and creating “clips” in the C-SPAN Video Library.
    3. Once students have marked in and out points for a background video, they select “Save Clip”.  The browser will then open to their saved clip and they copy the URL of the clip and save in a document to access later. 
    4. Students also search for background articles on the Web.
  3. Students then research and “clip” videos in the C-SPAN Video Library that  support the “for” and “against” sides of their question.  
    1. Once students have marked an in and out point for their “for” and “against” videos and saved the clip they copy and save the URL as they did in the last step.
  4. Students create a Google Site. A free Google account is available for students over 13 years old. 
    1. Students lay out their deliberation clips and link their research to the Google Site.
    2. Direct students to this guide for creating a Google Site to create their deliberations site.
    3. Once students have created the site and selected their video clips, they can link or embed the video clip contents and can link the articles they have selected to their Google Site.

Students will share the Google Site with the class either as a presentation or as an interactive activity.  They can use one of the Deliberation activities in this site, such as debate, congressional simulation, or taking a stand to lead the class as they participate in a deliberation.