Transform Education Through Evidence-Based Debate
Backed by decades of research, DebateBase empowers educational institutions with proven methods to enhance academic achievement, develop critical thinking, and build essential social-emotional skills.
Research-Proven Impact
Our approach is grounded in over 30 years of educational research, with measurable outcomes across academic achievement and social-emotional development.
Evidence-Based Educational Impact
Discover how structured debate education transforms learning outcomes through our comprehensive research-backed approach. Each area shows measurable improvements in student development and classroom dynamics.
Proven Academic Improvements
Research-Backed Results
Research shows a 3-phase progression from initial engagement to significant academic achievement, with effect sizes of 0.42-0.71 in knowledge retention.
Social-Emotional Learning
Building Essential Life Skills
5-phase development pathway building empathy, communication skills, resilience, and leadership qualities through structured dialogue.
Classroom Transformation
Enhanced Learning Environment
Higher psychological safety for risk-taking, increased participation across diverse learners, and improved peer relationships.
Implementation Strategy
Evidence-Based Approach
Structured 3-phase implementation process with comprehensive teacher training, assessment tools, and continuous improvement frameworks.
Structured Controversy in the Classroom
Structured controversy is the practice of assigning students opposing sides of a real question and requiring each side to understand the other well enough to argue it. Johnson and Johnson’s research found it produces better retention and better reasoning than either debate alone or straight instruction.
Debate
The head-to-head version, where two sides argue a proposition.
PEARS™
The five-stage version, and the one built for a class that needs to arrive somewhere together.
Prepare
Each side builds its case, with research and citation coaching available. The opposing side cannot see it yet.
Exchange
Each side presents. The listeners take notes and ask clarifying questions. No rebuttals, and no AI.
Advocate
Open argument. Students press each other’s evidence and defend their own.
Reverse
Each side argues the opposing position sincerely. This is where comprehension actually gets tested.
Synthesize
The group writes one joint statement. Every student affirms it or logs a dissent, so a group of four that lands three to one still finishes, and the disagreement is visible to you.
Groups run from two to six students, with one to three per side. You can run it live in a single period or asynchronously across a week with per-stage deadlines. Throughout, AI acts as a coach and never as an author: it helps students find sources and find the weak points in an argument, and it is switched off entirely during Exchange and Synthesize, where the work has to be theirs.
You see everything. The teacher view is complete and read-only at every stage, including the materials sides are hiding from each other.
Available now for Moodle as an LTI 1.3 activity, with roster sync and grade passback.
Ready to Transform Your Educational Environment?
Join educators nationwide who are using evidence-based debate education to enhance student engagement, critical thinking, and academic achievement. Our pilot program offers comprehensive support and training.
Key Research Findings
Enhanced Critical Thinking
Students show significant improvement in analysis, evaluation, and reasoning skills
Stronger Collaboration
Improved peer relationships and collaborative problem-solving capabilities
Better Classroom Climate
Higher psychological safety and increased engagement across diverse learners