Campusalam

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Not unlike the ‘Moral Maze’ format, this model has been developed for use in communities, especially when they need to reach an important decision. In this model, however, the audience are the ‘jury’, not a panel. It could be run over a period of time, not necessarily on one day. It is better suited for an all-day event than just an evening (choose the Moral Maze format for that.)

1. Choose a topic: it should be complex, with many aspects and angles to it. It should be something that matters. It should be something that needs a ‘verdict’, or some kind of decision or conclusion, maybe something practical. And it is most powerful when there are different people’s or groups’ interest at stake.

2. Discuss the topic in your planning team. What are the different angles or perspectives that should be represented? What different aspects or topics within the issue need exploring? Choose experts who can speak on those.

3. Invite expert witnesses. They should be asked to prepare a statement and be ready to be questioned by the ‘jury’.

4. Select your audience who will be the jury.

5. Expert witnesses appear to speak for 20 -30 minutes and are questioned by the participants. This is managed by a facilitator. You may also want a secretary to take notes.

6. At the end of the examinations, the jury review the information and opinions they have received.

7. The jury reach a conclusion.

8. Optionally, they could write a report and disseminate the results, in a publication, on a website, or in a special event.

9. If they have decided that some kind of practical action needs to be taken, a project could be designed and implemented.

Pros:

- Outstanding model for understanding a highly complex issue
- Excellent for reaching a conclusion in a way that takes many perspectives into account.
- Very good for turning talk into practical action if the issue is well chosen for that
- Provides a superior learning experience, engaging many different skills and levels

Cons:

- Takes maximum organisation and planning
- Requires good facilitation, note-taking, chairing skills from different people
- Can be costly if many expenses are incurred, and many expert witnesses need to be paid
- Requires a lot of dedication and commitment from the ‘jury’; can fall apart if they drop out.

Ideas:

- Explore using this as course-work or assessment for a course you are taking
- Involve diverse people from the student body in the jury – not just your usual circle