Integration of Deliberation into an Introductory Astronomy Course

Astronomy is a rich topic full of situations on which individuals may disagree. For example, are Starlink satellites beneficial, or are they harmful? Should telescopes be built on sacred ground? How should the astronomy community approach the naming of telescopes and astronomical objects? Contentious topics such as these may be omitted altogether, mentioned in passing with little engagement, introduced as a discussion during which opinions are shared without resolving conflict, or confronted as a debate in which students criticize the arguments of others with the goal of finding a winner. While discussion and debate both offer students the opportunity to learn about a topic, deliberation allows students to deeply engage with topics in an environment that normalizes disagreement, encourages students to share honest perspectives gained from their diverse backgrounds, and seeks a solution that will be best for everyone. I have designed my introductory astronomy course to include a significant deliberative component. Students are introduced to deliberation as a mode of collaborative interaction that explores the relative merits of all expressed perspectives and seeks to find common ground upon which a solution can be built.