The document discusses dilemmas that can be used in science education to engage students. It presents the ENGAGE dilemma approach, which uses controversial socio-scientific issues to motivate students and help them apply their science knowledge. The approach involves three stages: 1) motivating students with a dilemma, 2) helping students apply their knowledge to make decisions about the dilemma, and 3) having students reflect on their learning. Some example dilemmas are whether to trial an Ebola vaccine or ban soft drinks. The teacher's role is to activate students' prior knowledge and guide them through the decision-making process. Effective strategies include making the context dramatic, relating it to students' experiences, and supporting students as they justify responses and assess their understanding

1. Equipping the Next Generation for Active Engagement in Science
EngagingScience.eu
Dilemma
Lessons

2. The definition of Dilemma is“a situation in which a
difficult choice has
to be made between two or more alternatives,
especially equally undesirable ones”
(Oxford dictionaries, 2015)
Source: Dilemma | Flickr

3. A Dilemma in Science Education, means socio-scientific issues related to
applications and implications of Science (Ratcliffe, 1997).
It also refers to a productive learning context to :
• facilitate learners’ construction of science understanding, skills and attitudes.
• strengthen decision making and problem-solving skills (Koballa and Tippins, 2000)
Source: 3M Young Scientist Challenge.
Discovery Communications, 2007

4. ENGAGE Dilemmas
EBOLA: trial the vaccine?
GROW YOUR OWN BODY?
BAN COKE?
What does the FOX SAY?
THREE PARENTS ?
CAR WARS?
GIANT VIRUSES?
GM DECISION ?
BIG BAG BAN?
CHOCOLATE MONEY?
APPLIANCE SCIENCE?
EAT INSECTS?
SOLAR ROADWAYS?
MAKE DECISION ?SINKING ISLAND

5. The ENGAGE dilemma approach is based on
a short cycle with 3 stages, adapted from the
5 E’s inquiry cycle (Bybee, 1997; 2002)
A Dilemma lesson is short so
students won’t be working
with “exploring” and
“explaining”
evaluate
ENGAGE
EXPLORE
EXPLAIN
EXTEND
1. Motivating
students with
the dilemma
2. Helping Students
apply their knowledge
to make decisions
about the dilemma
1. Creating
opportunities for
students to reflect
on their learning
with the dilemma

6. What is the teachers’ role in “ENGAGE dilemma lessons”?
to help students
• capture students’ attention with the context
• activate previous or informal knowledge
• be curious and appropriate the “dilemma” as their “own learning objectives”
• Use their relevant knowledge to solve the problem.
• Apply students’ enquiry skills to find solution.
• Justify an overall decision or evaluation.
• Get feedback to improve their performance.
• Reflect on what they learned from the lesson and how.
ENGAGEEXTENDEVALUATE
Source: ENGAGE PROJECT (2014-2016)

7. What are effective strategies for Dilemma lessons?
• Find out about the new story to become enthusiastic yourself
• Make the context more dramatic using props or demonstrations
• Ask questions to relate the Dilemma to students’ experience
• Get students to compare their reactions to the question
• Listen in to group discussions
• Ask questions to check understanding
• Remove scaffolding in student sheet for more advanced students
• Support students in interpreting sources of evidence
• Support students in justifying their response to the dilemma
• Use formative assessment techniques to assess students’ understanding
• Get students to self- or peer- assess the outputs
• Ask students what was easy or difficult in the task, and how they solved the
problem
ENGAGEEXTENDEVALUATE
Source: ENGAGE PROJECT (2014-2016)