ERIC Number: EJ872965
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Apr
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0742-051X
EISSN: N/A
Learning How to Respond to Current Events: Partner Journals between U. S. Preservice Teachers and Children
Camicia, Steven P.; Dobson, Dorothy
Teaching and Teacher Education: An International Journal of Research and Studies, v26 n3 p576-582 Apr 2010
The representation of a variety of stakeholders' voices during the deliberation of public issues is vital for the proper functioning of a liberal democracy. This qualitative study examined an activity involving deliberation among children and preservice teachers in the United States. In the activity that we call partner journals, children were partnered with preservice teachers as pen pals to deliberate shared current events texts. Data included partner journals, written reflections from preservice teachers, and interviews with the children's teachers. All students gained perspective consciousness of someone with a different social positioning, a higher-order thinking skill vital to social justice and democratic education. The issues of teacher disclosure and power were particularly important to preservice teachers. Findings suggest implications for future research on partner journals with other partnerings of different social positionings.
Descriptors: Social Justice, Preservice Teachers, Current Events, Democracy, Thinking Skills, Teaching Methods, Journal Writing, Social Studies, Cooperative Learning, Writing Assignments, Interviews, Consciousness Raising, Democratic Values
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A