ERIC Number: EJ818145
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Jun
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0332-3315
EISSN: N/A
Civic, Social and Political Education: Active Learning, Participation and Engagement?
Nugent, Richard
Irish Educational Studies, v25 n2 p207-229 Jun 2006
This study examines the degree of active learning, participation and engagement of civic, social and political education (CSPE) pupils through an analysis of interview and focus group data, supplemented with key findings from a survey undertaken with CSPE pupils. The study focuses on pupils' views of the status of CSPE, their experience of active learning, or its absence, and the benefits pupils derived from active/experiential learning. These findings are presented in terms of gender and school-level differences and are analysed within an appropriate participation framework. The importance of citizenship education is conceptualised through a review of participation theory and the rationale for engaging pupils in active/experiential learning. It is argued that whilst it is important to engage young people in this type of learning, it can only be achieved if teachers believe in it and are willing to give pupils the appropriate autonomy needed to succeed. Examining pupil accounts of CSPE and active learning reveals there is a disparity in perspective between pupils who, in some schools, have benefited greatly from CSPE (through increased confidence and skills development) and those in other schools, where some pupils appear to have subverted active learning and have benefited little. (Contains 4 tables.)
Descriptors: Citizenship Education, Focus Groups, Experiential Learning, Active Learning, Learner Engagement, Student Surveys, Student Attitudes, Gender Differences, Age Differences, Outcomes of Education, Foreign Countries, Curriculum, Student Participation, Elementary Secondary Education, Teaching Methods, Program Effectiveness, Program Evaluation
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ireland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A