The 4th “Lope de Vega” Pre-University Debate Tournament will be held on April 19th and 20th under the question: “Should we shift towards a teaching model that reduces students' use of technology in the classroom?".
Tournament participants: final years of ESO (Compulsory Secondary Education) and Baccalaureate
The tournament, aimed at students of 3st and 4nd year of ESO y Undergraduate DegreesIt is organized by the College together with Kairós Communication, a prestigious consulting firm that collaborates with the Center in training in debate and public speaking.
Sponsors and participants of the 4th Lope de Vega Pre-University Debate Tournament
Furthermore, the event is sponsored by the Benidorm City Council, Ausolan, Zeblack and Prunita, and the schools will participate. Atlantic sands of Gran Canaria -winner of the previous edition of the tournament, which focused on the topic of inflation-; Saint Augustine, Alicante; Brains, from Madrid; Samani, from Alcantarilla; and the debate association Aeternum, from Torrepacheco.
This year the debate focuses on the reduction of technology use by students in the classroom.
More than sixty students from different parts of Spain will compete.
Topic of the IV Lope de Vega Debate Tournament
Participants in this event will discuss an issue that is increasingly becoming the subject of analysis and public reflection: the need or not to reduce the use of technology by students in the classroom. They will have to defend their position for or against it, according to a draw, and convince the jury in each debate.
For decades, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been integrated into classrooms, initially seen as innovative tools that improved the quality of education. However, a debate has recently emerged regarding their usefulness and positive impact.
Some argue that excessive use can be a distraction and negatively affect the development of social skills and critical thinking. Others maintain that ICTs offer new teaching methodologies, improving academic results and boosting motivation.
The arrival of generative artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, has intensified this debate, raising questions about whether these technologies are allies or enemies of teachers. Some countries, like Sweden, are considering reducing the use of technology in classrooms, while others are promoting its integration, including through the use of video games for educational purposes.
Training in Public Speaking and Debate
The debate, therefore, is open in this activity encompassed within the training in public speaking and debate With this project, Lope de Vega, together with Kairós Comunicación, aims to develop students' ability to express themselves in public, argue, and enhance their critical thinking skills..
