A newly released chapter in the Research Handbook on Education and Democracy presents important findings on how teachers can best nurture democratic knowledge, skills, and values in students. Titled Which teaching practices promote students’ democracy learning? A systematic review, the study was authored by Pontus Wallin, Maria Olson and Mikael Persson.

This systematic review analyzed 29 high-quality studies on teaching methods in pre-college education. The authors found compelling evidence that participatory teaching strategies − such as classroom discussions, group work, simulations of democratic processes, and student involvement in decision-making − significantly boost students’ democratic competencies.

An open and inclusive classroom climate emerged as a consistent factor in promoting not only political knowledge but also civic engagement, particularly among students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Moreover, the review highlights that active, student-centered teaching helps reduce democratic learning disparities and may influence long-term civic behaviors like voter turnout.

− Our findings show that how teachers structure classroom interactions really matters, said lead author Pontus Wallin. − We now have good evidence showing that deliberative and participatory approaches are pedagogically effective and vital for cultivating the next generation of democratic citizens, said Pontus Wallin.

The study draws on the rigorous review process of the Swedish Institute for Educational Research. It provides crucial insights for educators, policymakers, and curriculum developers aiming to strengthen democracy through education.

About the study
The study, conducted by Pontus Wallin, Maria Olson, and Mikael Persson, is based on the institute's systematic review Learning democracy – teaching practices in focus (Att lära demokrati – lärares arbetssätt i fokus).

About us
The Swedish Institute for Educational Research is a government agency with the objective to enable those who work in the Swedish school system to plan, carry out and evaluate teaching, on the basis of research-based methods and procedures. The objective of the Swedish Institute for Educational Research is ultimately to contribute to children’s and pupils’ development and learning.

Links
Which teaching practices promote students’ democracy learning? A Systematic Review. (Pre-publication draft)

Learning democracy – teaching practices in focus

The Swedish Institute for Educational Research