As a social science online instructor, I've seen my fair share of politically-charged discussion board posts. Especially these days. Hotly debated topics are welcomed by a lot of in-class instructors, as it livens the classroom environment and may help drive home some important learning objectives. However, hosting such discussions online can be a bit more treacherous, given the anonymity the online environment provides.

If you view any kind of social media these days, you can see how much the web needs some etiquette standards! I don't know about general web standards (internet trolling seems to be a new cultural past time), but we can certainly set standards for discussing controversial or contentious topics in our classrooms.

I found a resource to guide us in creating policies, procedures, and guidelines for discussing such topics: Guidelines for Discussing Difficult or Controversial Topics.This article is published by the University of Michigan and offers a 9-fold approach for addressing controversial topics in a productive way.

The approach offered is 9-fold:

1. Have a clear focus. Students should know what is expected of them. Without these guardrails, it is easier to go off track.
2. Establish clear ground rules. A "netiquette" section in a syllabus could lay these rules out loud and clear.
3. Provide a common basis for understanding. Grounding the course in sanctioned and provided resources could make sure students are going to qualified, academic sources on which to base their thoughts and perspectives.
4. Create a framework for the discussion. Have some open ended aspects, but also rein in the conversation with pointed questions that - again - maintain those important guardrails.
5. Include everyone. This prevents the more ignited, extroverted students from dominating the conversation.
6. Be an active facilitator. If students know that the instructor is reading, paying attention, and commenting then they are less likely to devolve into unhelpful tone and language.
7. Summarize and gather feedback. "It is very important to save time at the end of class to conclude by summarizing the main points of the discussion. Students are more likely to feel that a discussion was valuable if the instructor, with the help of the class, synthesizes what has been shared or identifies the key issues explored" (CRLT, n.d.).
8. Be aware of your own emotional response. Do not add fuel to any unhelpful discussion by losing your own composure.
9. Pay special attention to discussions on current or recent military conflicts. You may very likely have students on both sides of that conflict in class and you will want to be especially prepared to handle these discussions diplomatically and dispassionately.