Kialo Edu was developed as a platform for students to discuss issues with logic, self-reflection, and civility — qualities often absent in modern discourse, whether online or offline.
Kialo discussions are interactive maps of arguments. They start with a central thesis, which students support or weaken by writing pro and con claims underneath. Each claim then has its own set of pros and cons, and so on — allowing complex reasoning to be clearly visualized.
Kialo can greatly increase participation and inclusivity by allowing students to contribute to any part of the discussion, at any time.
It is also designed to train critical thinking skills, filling a wide but underserved need. A large body of research attests that argument-mapping tools like Kialo are among the most effective methods for doing so.
Plus, it helps students practice civil discourse. Arguments for and against a claim have equal prominence, encouraging students to consider opposing ideas. Students critique arguments rather than individuals, making it easier to hold cool-headed discussions about hot topics.
Kialo discussions take place in class, remotely, or as a hybrid of the two.
Since launching in 2019, Kialo Edu has grown to over 800,000 users — largely through word of mouth. We have hosted more than 200,000 discussions in at least 49 different languages and over 100 different countries.
Our ongoing goal is to reach educators and learners in diverse educational environments — through accessibility, localisation, and outreach efforts — as part of our mission to make the world a more thoughtful place.
Go to kialo-edu.com and create an account, or log in through Google, Microsoft, or Clever. Then, browse our library of discussion topics — or simply create your own — before inviting students to begin discussing!
As part of our commitment to providing equitable access to digital learning, Kialo is completely free. It can be accessed via the browser on any device without loss of functionality.
