ONE The aim is to create a 'Simulated Synchronous' environment. This is not a pre-recorded exercise. Teachers are to emulate a live debate where the 'recording' of the other team is played at an agreed time and the school team responds (and records at the same time) within 2-5 minutes of hearing it.
TWO Each debating team has TWO or THREE members (first speaker may also be third speaker, or a third speaker can be brought in).
THREE Each debating team must be prepared to argue the proposition or the opposition during the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals.
FOUR Response and recording is to be done 'live', preferably with an audience (class, other group within the school) with no/little delay time (2-5 min. acceptable for planning).
FIVE There is to be no re-recording of the response EXCEPT for a technical issue with VoiceThread or associated equipment. This will be at the teacher’s discretion with full disclosure made.
SIX The time limit for each debate must be observed and judges will impose penalties for exceeding the maximum limit (see Debate Format).
SEVEN Debating teams must communicate (teacher to teacher) in order to fine-tune the 3-week schedule for proposition and opposition responses. It is possible to take into account school interruptions if planned in advance.
EIGHT It is expected that the Debate Format will be observed at all times. Please note that Opposition #2 and Opposition Rebuttal Speaker will record their debate session one after the other. (See Debate Format)
NINE Only one speaker is allowed per recording with a maximum total of three speakers per team.
TEN If a teacher wishes to include a transcription due to a concern that a student's accent may be difficult to understand, it should be a public Google doc attached as a link to the Voicethread - it is optional. This transcription must be verbatim of what was said. If it takes the form of additional written material, it will be disqualified from being used.
ELEVEN A debate round between two teams will be judged and scored if it is complete only. An incomplete debate round (1 or more missing responses) will have judges comments but no scores attributed.
TWELVE If one or both teams are unable to continue, the opposing team does not 'win' by default. In this case the team able to continue will be acknowledged.