Eric Plutzer|A. Lee Hannah
Teaching climate change in middle schools and high schools: investigating STEM education’s deficit model
Pennsylvania State University|Wright State University
science teachers play important role promoting civic scientific literacy recent research suggests less effective could educating next generation citizens climate change causes one particular area concern many science teachers usa encourage students debate settled empirical findings role humangenerated emissions greenhouse gases raising global temperatures common reaction call science teachers receive formal training climate science increase knowledge improve teaching using nationally representative survey 1500 middle school high school science teachers investigate element argument show increased science coursework college modest effects teachers content knowledge teaching choices including decisions debating sides also find teachers personal political orientations play large role teaching strategies rightleaning teachers devote somewhat less time global warming much likely encourage student debate causes global warming discuss implications findings argue teacher education might effective informed insights emerging discipline science communication however although knowledge ideology predictive pedagogy large number teachers ideological positions levels subject expertise encourage students debate established findings discuss highlight potential explanations