Learning democratic participation as future citizens is an important goal for science education for all students. To take part in debates and decision-making involving socioscientific issues, such as sustainability, students need to become aware of different positions and dilemmas regarding such issues. This study seeks to understand how…

Facing significant budget deficits and stagnant enrollments, a local school district realized that they would likely need to close some schools, which is always a difficult issue for communities to consider. The school district, hoping to find a way to have a productive community conversation about this difficult issue, turned to a local,…

Argues for liberating factors in education (student-centered practice, open-ended discussion, and art as a subject). Describes the "Visual Thinking Strategies" teaching method, which focuses on structured but open, group discussions about diverse art objects in order to help viewers develop a rapport with art, increase aesthetic…