Promoting Systems Thinking Through Arts Integration

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: Trends and Issues in Science Education

Abstract

Socio-scientific issues require an educated citizenry of voters, decision-makers, and consumers. Fully comprehending socio-scientific issues and their implication in today’s society necessitates thinking that can bridge social, environmental, and economic systems. In this study, we are interested in whether and how arts integration might support systems thinking about complex socio-scientific issues. Utilizing an image selection task to evaluate student capacities of systems thinking, this paper reports on initial findings of how an after-school arts integration program, focused on zoonotic diseases and ecosystem dynamics, promoted systems thinking for late elementary students. These findings, as well as implications of this work, are discussed.

Authors

• Elizabeth Grace, Washington State University - Spokane

• Molly Louise Kelton, WA

• Robert William Danielson, Washington State University - Spokane

• Alison White, Washington State University

• Anamaria Diaz Martinez, Washington State University

• Jeb P. Owen, Washington State University

• Patricia Butterfield