Title: Challenges of civic education in Portuguese basic schools

Authors: Fernanda Nogueira, Antonio Moreira, Ana Paula Pedro

Addresses: Research Centre for Didactics and Technology in Teacher Education, Department of Education, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal. ' Research Centre for Didactics and Technology in Teacher Education, Department of Education, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal. ' Research Centre for Didactics and Technology in Teacher Education, Department of Education, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal

Abstract: There is a tendency for enlarging the concept of citizenship education (as new problems arise in society) with new requirements and responsibilities for school. Is the school prepared and teachers trained for this challenge? What is the potential of ICT for civic education? This paper focuses on an ongoing action-research study involving Portuguese basic school teachers and students, in the non-disciplinary curricular area of civic education. We will discuss some preliminary data gathered from class directors interviews (n = 10), which will allow us to make important reflections around the effectiveness of this compulsory subject and launch some ideas for further work.

Keywords: basic schooling; civic education; information technology; communication technology; ICT; intercultural information management; non-disciplinary curricular area; Portugal; teacher perceptions; teacher training; citizenship education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIIM.2010.035298

International Journal of Intercultural Information Management, 2010 Vol.2 No.2, pp.117 - 131

Published online: 21 Sep 2010 *

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