Carolyn, I wanted to share my experience with an interactive learning
exercise used with highschool age youth. At the Wisconsin Farmers Union
summer camp a few years ago, we considered a number of ethical issues in
agriculture with the senior [high school age] campers in a session as part
of my involvement with the Soul of Agriculture project funded through the
Center for Respect for Life and Enivronment and the Humane Society. There
were about 60 campers in the session and 8 councelors. This was the third
day of a five day camp.
Issues included biotech, animal welfare, food security, farmer
compensation, pesticides, rural beauty, rural development. I wrote up
concrete questions for each of these issue areas and put them in a hat.
Then I had campers count off so they would be working in small groups of 6
or 8. Each group drew an issue out of the hat and then discussed it in
their small group, articulating various perspectives on the question
including their own. We were lucky to have a camp councelor helping to
facilitate each small group who could nudge them to discuss some of the
broader, more difficult aspects of the issue. [I went over the questions
with the councelors before the session]. Some groups covered more than one
issue in the time alloted. Discussion was quite animated in most of the
groups. It was a beautiful day so some of the discussion groups went
outside to meet.
Then we reconvened and each group reported back to the whole what their
issue was and what they thought about it. As each group reported back, the
entire assembly was encouraged to offer their opinions. If there were
obvious angles they missed, I asked the councelors to chime in or brought
up points myself. On some issues we took a vote pro / con, making sure
that those offering opinions supported them with reasoning and that
differing opinions were respected. Participants were clearly engaged and
enjoyed being asked to consider some of these tough ethical issues of our
times. The entire session lasted 1.5 hours, although the group voted to
skip their 15 minute break so they could finish the discussion.
This format could be used in many different contexts. Let me how it goes
if any of you use it.
Michelle Miller
Pesticide Use and Risk Reduction Project
Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems
University of Wisconsin - Madison
U.S. Mail: 146 Agriculture Hall 608.262.7135
Campus: 1535 Observatory Drive 608.262.5200
Madison, WI 53706 fax 265.3020
www.wisc.edu/cias/ mmmille6@facstaff.wisc.edu
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