Amid a pandemic, ARC adapted to the online method to spread critical thinking among schoolchildren, with an e-debate competition called Think Off.
Amid a pandemic, ARC adapted to the online method to spread critical thinking among schoolchildren, with an e-debate competition called Think Off. Over 8 days, 50+ students presented their arguments for or against various motions ranging from sports and politics to entertainment and philosophy. Some answers were randomly chosen from the days' submissions and the participants were supposed to rebut the arguments posed by the other side. They were marked on a variety of indicators, both in their initial submissions, as well as in their rebuttals to the chosen answers of the other side. The scoreboard was updated daily on our Instagram page and provided constant motivation for the participants who did well. The event was a major success, receiving rave reviews from both children and parents alike, and concluded with a prize distribution ceremony honoring the top 20 participants. Prize money worth 5k was distributed for the top 5 contestants, along with future discount coupons for the next 10 winners.