Teaching for democracy Exploring teaching methods that work

This dissertation examines how teaching methods that address democratic subject matter can stimulate students’ democratic competences and values. The research provides insight into how teachers and students experience these methods, as well as their impact on student learning. The dissertation starts by exploring the variety of teaching methods through which democracy can be taught effectively and the actions and behaviors of teachers and students that help explain why these methods are effective. Based on these insights, Teegelbeckers then designed two sets of lessons: one using instruction-based methods and the other using experience-based methods. These lessons were subsequently implemented by various teachers in secondary vocational education and evaluated by both the students and participating teachers. Their overall effects were then examined through a randomized controlled trial.
The results of this dissertation show that various methods can be effective, including lectures, assignments, and simulations. The findings further indicate that these methods are effective because they make democratic subject matter meaningful to students, expose students to divergent perspectives on complex socio-political issues, make students think about potential solutions for these issues, and stimulate critical reflection on various forms and aspects of democracy. Specifically, in secondary vocational education, this dissertation indicates that lessons using predominantly experience-based teaching methods, such as simulations, are more effective than lessons using instruction-based methods. The dissertation also shows that both methods present implementation challenges, including how to handle students’ emotions, the risk that students may not engage with different perspectives, students’ tendency towards premature and one-sided solutions to complex issues, and students’ difficulties with argumentation.
Overall, the findings highlight the potential of teaching about the complexities of democracy in the classroom to promote students’ democratic understanding.