Deliberative Democracy Pedagogy (DDP), an active learning approach in which students work in peer groups to reach a consensus on a scientific topic relevant to both real-world issues and course content, is being integrated into general chemistry courses at Portland State University (PSU) as part of an ongoing five-year Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) science education funded project. During DDP activities students are asked to explore both the scientific data and public perception surrounding a topic by reading peer-reviewed and media articles. Students evaluate the information provided by these sources, have the opportunity to research their own sources, deliberate in groups, and arrive at an evidence-supported position on a specific science topic.<br/><br/>The goals of DDP are to help students engage more deeply with course material, connect science to their lives, and understand their role as scientifically literate citizens. These goals acknowledge that while the students in general chemistry courses at PSU are primarily not chemistry majors, understanding chemistry will help them make informed decisions about scientific topics relevant to their lives and their communities. We are examining if the goals of DDP are being met and how students perceive the DDP activities. The diverse and non-traditional student population of PSU provides an opportunity to explore differences in student perceptions and outcomes across demographic groups as a result of DDP implementation. Preliminary findings will be presented along with a description of our DDP activities.

Connecting chemistry to community with deliberative democracy

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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