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The potential of “civic science education”

Theory, research, practice, and uncertainties

Bibliographic Data

ID21392719
AuthorsBrett L M Levy (0000-0002-0977-7938, Department of Educational Theory and Practice, University at Albany State University of New York Albany New York USA, corresponding author), Alandeom W Oliveira (0000-0003-2418-0299, Department of Educational Theory and Practice, University at Albany State University of New York Albany New York USA), Cornelia B Harris (0000-0001-9608-4074, Department of Educational Theory and Practice, University at Albany State University of New York Albany New York USA)
Year2021
Volume105
Issue6
Pages1053-1075
Publication date2021-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueScience Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0036-8326 • E-ISSN: 1098-237X
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/sce.21678
OpenAlexW3204138401
LanguageEN
Citations received23
References cited109

This paper explores the potential of civic science education (CSE), which includes experiences that have been intentionally designed to foster or enhance individuals’ interactions with and/or engagement in science‐related public matters. To begin, we provide a theoretically‐grounded definition of CSE, including three sub‐categories: foundational, exploratory, and purposefully active. We then explore the scholarly arguments for why enacting CSE could help to support students’ science learning and civic engagement and also strengthen civil society. Next, the paper examines current educational practices related to CSE, such as citizen science, exploring socioscientific issues, and various civic education pedagogies, detailing what researchers have learned from empirical studies of these practices. Building on this prior theory and research, we argue that CSE could motivate students both to learn science and become engaged in civic issues, with slightly different expected outcomes across the three CSE categories. We conclude by encouraging educators and researchers to explore the great potential of such practices, providing specific recommendations for curriculum development and empirical studies

Civic engagement · Civics · Curriculum · Empirical research · Engineering ethics · Epistemology · Exploratory research · Mathematics education · Pedagogy · Political science · Science education · Social science · Sociology · Educator Training and Historical Pedagogy · Innovative Teaching Methodologies in Social Sciences · Psychology · Service-Learning and Community Engagement

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Unique citing works23
Citations per year5,75
Citation span2022 - 2026 (5)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 23
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