NEW TOOL: Focusing Science and Engineering Learning on Justice-Centered Phenomena across PK-12

Posted on May 28, 2020

In the Framework vision, young people learn science and engineering by investigating phenomena. This puts greater importance on which phenomena educators select to guide investigations. Who does the phenomena matter to—and why? Under what system of values or ideologies? 

This new brief describes how investigations and challenges based on justice-centered phenomena can lead to richer, more meaningful learning for students of all ages. By selecting phenomena with connections to social issues that affect their students, educators can help young people see that real-world science and engineering is done in complex social and political settings. Critically, investigating justice-centered phenomena can empower young people to use engineering and science to make meaningful change in their communities.