Presentation for ODET 2010, Leeds

1. www.fuerundwider.org
A moderated online-plattform for
visualized argumentation
ODET 2010, Leeds
Ralf Groetker
groetker@debattenprofis.de

2. The recipe
Argument visualization
+ Moderation / Embedding
+ Community Organizing
=

3. Moderation / Embedding
● Developping a story-line for a debate
● Embedding debate-maps within a blog-like
website. Participation via comments.
● Contrasting visualizations and narrative text
● Recruiting stakeholders and leading experts
● Commenting on the evolution of a debate
● Enhancing the debate with polls and other
actions

4. Example: „Information failure“

5. Example: Volcano Ashes (1)
Argument maps are
embedded into blogposts

6. Example: Volcano Ashes (2)
● A debate is transformed
in an argument starting
with a contention
● Contributions to the
debate appear as
supporting (or
attacking) statements
for a claim

7. Use of maps
● The map is constructed in an adversarial style
● We make use of „show more“ (details function)
● Within the argument map, there are links to
topic and dialog maps on sub-topics
● There are also maps with
– protagonists of the debate
– a timeline of events

8. The website
● Several blogposts
lead through the topic
and the main map.
● Latest comments are
displayed
● Reference material on
the topic of the
debate is available via
delicious

9. Assumptions (1)
Business modell:
● Starting point: Many people might like to use a public
debate-website. But only some are willing to
contribute.
● We assume that motivating people to contribute will
pose greater problems than dealing with spam
● The role of the moderator is very important. But
moderation must be paid.
● We are sellling public debates, e.g. to science
organizations

10. Assumptions (2)
„Wickedness is not enough“: Some topics will
be more apt for collective deliberation than
others. Some important factors:
● The outcome of a debate must have some practical
relevance
● Means/end-discussion will be easier than fundamtal
dispute
● Local knowledge or special expertise is necessary
● Conflicts must seem resolvable

11. Assumptions (3)
Argumentation- and dialogue tools are rather
complex. How can overcome the limits resulting
from this fact?
● It‘s never going to be as easy to use as Google.
● Embedding will help to lead readers through a
map.
● We make commenting and contributing easier
by adding a traditional comments-section

12. Software-requirements
● Online-display
● „Details“ function
● Easy navigation and orientation
● Allowing dialogue- as well als argument
mapping
● Linkage options
● Possibility to render co-premisses
● Individual icons and images

13. What‘s in it...for readers? (1)
Ever wanted to know how to prepare sepia in a
pressure cooker? Or to find out why your newly-
installed printer delivers pages full of lines like “?¤
€8?÷¿”? Google, of course, will lead you to some
online community where exactly this is being
discussed.

14. What‘s in it … for readers? (2)
However, what if you want to get an impression
about the arguments, the pros and cons, used in a
contemporary debate, say, on the issue of
prolonged military engagement in Iraq or a ban on
speculation? A simple web search won’t help you
much. There are, however, sites with
discussions. But who wants to read twenty or
more pages with comments, much of them
addressing the same points over and over again?

15. Whats in it … for readers? (3)
Instruments for the visualization of debates like
the ones we use on this site have the potential to
solve this problem. Debate-maps that reconstruct
the logical structure of a discussion tell you at a
glance which topics have been brought up in a
discussion and how they relate to each other.

16. What‘s in it...for contributors?
Stakeholders will be able to collect evidence and
arguments supporting their position – and
answering objections and questions brought up by
opponents.
The growing map itself is published under a
creative common licence. Participants (and
others) can re-publish the map on their own
website.

17. What‘s in it...for sponsors?
The greater part of the debates will be sponsored
by scientific organisations and publishing
companies. As a sponsor, you can propose a
topic for discussion and establish yourself as a
source of expertise in the field. The controversial
and open style of the site will be a much more
trustworthy way of communicating ‚risky‘ topics to
the public than established formats of seeking
public understanding of science.

18. What‘s in it... for sponsors? (2)
Sponsored debates can either be part of a site
with several ongoing discussions or be accessible
through a separate website devoted to a single
topic.
Contact us for more details.

19. End
Thanks four your attention!
Ralf Groetker
groetker@debattenprofis.de