The Fifth Dimension in Socio-Scientific Reasoning: Promoting Decision-Making about Socio-Scientific Issues in a Community

Making informed decisions about socio-scientific issues requires reasoning, which is highly challenging for students. This construct has four dimensions, including recognizing complexity, analyzing multiple perspectives, appreciating the need ongoing inquiry, and employing skepticism. To support its development, we integrated established principles designing learning environments with Knowledge Community of Inquiry model. A design-based research study was conducted two iterations, involving 85 eighth graders, to examine effectiveness integrative approach in supporting students’ reasoning decision-making. The web-based unit “Asthma Community” adapted enacted In first iteration, applied, second redesigned features from approach. Results showed that all students who participated iteration developed made better evidence-based than those expressed an understanding decision-making processes a community, suggested as new, fifth dimension reasoning. essential coping networked society, suggests how design can development.