MNUDL Affiliates Promote Empowerment at 2024 CTAM
Skye Spindler and Jamie Maiers present at 2024 CTAM.
The Minnesota Urban Debate League brought 5 presentations to CTAM-Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Conference this weekend. With work centered around the theme “We all do better when we all do better,” a quote from Paul Wellstone, MNUDL affiliates showcased their commitment to fostering student leadership, empowering educators, and driving community progress through debate and public speaking.
Check out the descriptions of each of the MNUDL-led presentations at CTAM. We’re happy to share resources if you missed the conference – just reach out to us at mnudl@augsburg.edu!
FROM LEARNERS TO LEADERS: ENCOURAGING STUDENT AUTONOMY AND PEER SUPPORT ON YOUR TEAM
• Teddy Munson, Tartan High School
• Beth Morgan, North Saint Paul High School | ISD 622 North St. Paul – Maplewood – Oakdale
Empowering students to take charge of their learning journey is key to fostering autodidactic education and creating strong support networks. This panel explores how student empowerment within the Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL) promotes self-directed learning, resilience, and peer support. Learn strategies to empower students, encourage independence, and help build a unified, supportive Minnesota forensics community!
FROM CLASSROOM TO COMPETITION: TRAINING AND EMPOWERING DEBATE TEACHER COACHES.
• Skye Spindler, Washburn High School
• Jamie Maiers, Tartan High School | Minneapolis Public Schools, ISD 622 North St. Paul – Maplewood – Oakdale
Teacher coaches are the backbone of successful Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL) programs, providing essential guidance, mentorship, and support to students – and they do all this without competitive debate experience! This panel explores the crucial role that teacher coaches play in fostering a thriving debate community, the importance of institutional support from schools, and why every team needs one.Learn how you can recruit and train your own teacher coaches so they can inspire and develop students’ skills while providing institutional backing and administrative support that ensures the sustainability and growth of programs.
PARTNERING FOR PROGRESS: THE MNUDL VISION FOR STUDENT AND COMMUNITY GROWTH IN MINNESOTA
• Melekh Akintola, Minnesota Urban Debate League
Explore the pivotal role of the Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL) in fostering academic and personal growth among students. This presentation delves into the MNUDL’s mission, its impact on students and communities, and ways you can support its initiatives. Learn how MNUDL programs cultivate critical thinking, public speaking, and leadership skills, and discover practical ways to instill the MNUDL model in your classroom.
INNOVATIONS IN PUBLIC SPEAKING
• Daniel Cronn-Mills, Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Robert Groven, Augsburg University
• John Perlich, Bemidji State University
• Jen Goblish, Southwest Minnesota State University
Public Speaking is a cornerstone course at most colleges and universities. The panelists offer new and innovative approaches for the course. If you teach public speaking, this panel is for you!
CAMPING IN A BIGGER TENT: CO-DESIGNING THE FUTURE OF SPEECH, THEATRE, DEBATE & ACADEMIC SUMMER LEARNING
• Robert Groven, Augsburg University
• Stephanie Lein Walseth, Perpich Center for Arts Education
• Keith Bistodeau, Eden Prairie High School; Anoka Ramsey Community College
• Meredith Aby-Keirstead, Bloomington Jefferson School District
• Matt Davis, St. Croix Preparatory Academy
• Jamie Maiers, University of Minnesota Twin Cities; Tartan Senior High School
• Jonathan Kohan, Centennial Middle School
Last year’s CTAM panel on reimagining summer camps for speech, theatre, and debate generated a large and lively discussion of how to expand and improve summer forensic learning opportunities for students. This year’s panel will expand that discussion to include three new topics: 1) summer professional development opportunities for teachers and coaches, 2) assessing and demonstrating the value of summer learning for students and professionals, 3) coaching circles where participants will be asked to help co-design best practices for speech, theatre, debate, and other academic summer camps. Special focus will be given to developing models for camps and other programs for greater Minnesota and outlying suburban and exurban schools.
