Role Reversal to Facilitate Social & Moral Compassion: A Case for Climate Change as an Ethics Dilemma

Abstract

Supporting socioscientific decision-making skills in science classrooms is vital to the education of scientifically literate citizens. Character and values play a key role in accomplishing this fundamental goal of science education. However, students' decisions about complex socioscientific issues often lack social and moral compassion. In this study, we advocate for the use of role reversal to facilitate such compassion. We illustrate our proposal by providing a lesson plan on the construction of hydroelectric power plants to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change.