Benefits | Obstacles |
Teacher efficacy to implement a student-led, emergent, & interdisciplinary curriculum | Student idealism regarding issues as being easy and straight-forward was tested |
Establishment of a supportive/trusting classroom community = safety in airing diverse and sometimes unpopular perspectives | Issues chosen by students were often sensitive with strong conflicting viewpoints |
Students interested, attentive, & intrinsically motivated in memorable, self-directed work worth doing | Teacher could not thoroughly predict or control the outcome of the presentations & interactive discussions/debates |
Students engaged in critical thinking surrounding diverse perspectives & brainstorming viable solutions to authentic, real-world issues―helps prepare students for 21st-century life, work, and democratic citizenship | Thinking on her feet, clarification scaffolding was required by the teacher |
Discussions prompted students to challenge & sometimes alter their thinking |
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