Emerging democracies such as Guatemala are beginning to experiment with active learning methodologies to improve learning and encourage democratic behavior among children. However, there exists little information on the effects of different classroom environments on children's behavior in developing countries. This study uses focused classroom observations to examine differences in the democratic behavior of children of different genders and ethnicity attending traditional rural schools and those attending rural schools with an experimental active learning program. Results show that children in the experimental program engage in signi cantly more democratic behaviors than their counterparts and these behaviors are related to participation in small group activities. Within the active learning program, greater democratic behavior and small group participation are also related to higher reading achievement at the classroom level.

This article explores the impact of a critical pedagogy of forensic science approach combined with an immersive field experience to train student members of a volunteer humanitarian forensic science team in preparation for immersion in the politically charged and emotionally challenging conditions surrounding migrant death at the United States-Mexico Border. Utilizing self-reflections from student team members before and after their fieldwork, the impact of a holistic and multi-faceted training approach can be evaluated. The goal of this training approach is to produce capable forensic scientists, as well as anthropologists who recognize the power structures inherent in such situations and subsequently work to kindle social change. Comparing expectations before fieldwork to experiences obtained during fieldwork can be a powerful way to gauge their progress in a transformative learning process.

No abstract