¡Con Ganas! Fostering Latina Students’ Active Participation in Science Classrooms through Their Involvement in Cogenerative Dialogues

Abstract

This study explores cogenerative dialogues as potential spaces for supporting active participation among Latina students in science courses. I collaborated with two high school science teachers to enact cogenerative dialogues with five Latina students, each of whom had previously self-identified as reluctant class participants. Using a framework grounded in educación concepts of care, personalismo, and confianza, I found that, as the students took greater part in cogenerative dialogues, their active participation within in-class activities grew in parallel. This increase in participation was mediated by several conditions of cogenerative dialogues, which collectively fostered a spirit of community, agency, and science identity.