"The Domino Effect": How Early Adolescents Describe Their Capacity for Civic Engagement

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Seven
  In Roundtable Session: Teachers' and Students' Perceptions of Citizenship Education (Table 10)

Abstract

This qualitative study explores how young adolescents described their capacity for civic engagement as they participated in a five-day summer civic education camp. During focus group interviews and other camp activities, 6th-9th graders discussed areas of personal control and influence in the context of action civics projects about issues in their communities. Findings suggest that participants recognized the capacity of people their age to raise awareness and advocate about issues they care about by taking personal responsibility for their actions and efforts, and by leveraging relationships to influence others.

Authors

• Michelle Bauml, Texas Christian University
  Presenting Author

• Jonathan W. Crocker, Denver Public Schools
  Presenting Author