Civics in a Digital Republic: A Transformative Curriculum

Lesson 2: Creating Effective Citizens: Web Resources

64 B.2 Creating Effective Citizens WEB RESOURCES SUMMARY This unit is comprised of three separate programs to be used at the discretion of the teacher: • The Civic Mirror (http://civicmirror.com/) • Project Vote Smart (http://www.votesmart.org/) • We the People (http://new.civiced.org/programs/wtp) Each lesson addresses the following questions: • How are effective citizens created? • What does it take do to your part in a democracy? THE CIVIC MIRROR SUMMARY The students will utilize The Civic Mirror, an online and face-to-face education program that turns classrooms into countries, students into citizens and teachers into twenty-first century educators. Students are given their own government, legal system, economy and environment to use and have a hands on approach to what they’re studying. FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL 64 B.2 65 FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL Creating Effective Citizens WEB RESOURCES continued • The Civic Mirror’s events can be integrated into a variety of course settings to improve the delivery of the curriculum. As students assume the responsibilities and challenges of citizens living in their own Civic Mirror countries, they are better able to understand what’s being taught in class because they can relate to it. Students: • Learn how the government, the economy and the civic system all interconnect through experiencing it firsthand. • Learn about real-life lessons. • Simulate nation-building activities. PROCEDURE • Teachers need to sign up for The Civic Mirror and proceed from there. It is recommended that twelve class sessions be devoted to The Civic Mirror , two of which require computer lab use. The other ten sessions are reserved for in class decisions and students may also utilize The Civic Mirror outside of school instruction. • The framework is based to fit a teacher’s needs and calendar and is completely flexible with respect to the schedule of the semester. Differentiated Instruction • These lessons are constructed so that teachers are able to address various learning needs in their classrooms as defined by IEPs or 504s.We encourage teachers to present material digitally, orally, graphically and textually. By using a variety of presentation styles, it is hoped that all students will learn. Time Allotment • Twelve class periods. One hour per class. B.2 Creating Effective Citizens WEB RESOURCES continued FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL 66 MATERIALS & RESOURCES Resources • Computer lab (one computer per student) with access to the Internet for two class periods only. • Curriculum Toolbox. PROJECT VOTE SMART SUMMARY Project VoteSmart is a valuable resource as a site comprised mostly of volunteers who provide individuals with backgrounds and records of thousands of political candidates and elected officials. Voting records, campaign contributions, public statements, biographical data and evaluations generated by over one-hundred competing social interest groups are listed. • Students will research political views and platforms of different candidates . • Students will evaluate the claims and solutions offered from researched candidates. • Students will discuss the views highlighted on candidate web pages or sites maintained by political parties. PROCEDURE • Instruct the students to explore political views that interest them and candidates that support those views. By looking into platforms, students will compare and contrast their candidate with that of others in class. The class period should be devoted to researching platforms, candidates, political views, etc., via Project Vote Smart online. • For assessment, have the students write a written response highlighting candidate web pages and/or sites maintained by political parties. Further assessment would include participation in your class discussion. B.2 Creating Effective Citizens WEB RESOURCES continued 67 FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL • Project Vote Smart has sample lessons also available here: VoteSmart (http://www.votesmart.org/resource_classroom_01.php) Time Allotment • Two class periods. One hour per class. MATERIALS & RESOURCES Instructional Materials • Computer lab (one computer per student) with access to the Internet • Curriculum Toolbox WE THE PEOPLE SUMMARY We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution is a program and culminating activity created and sponsored by the Center for Civic Education. The program consists of an in-depth study of the constitution and democracy in the United States. The culminating activity is a Congressional hearing presented within a statewide competition. PROCEDURE • Participants hold a simulated congressional hearing as the culminating activity for the We the People program. The entire class, working in cooperative teams, prepares and presents statements before a panel of community representatives who act as congressional committee members. Students then answer questions posed by the committee members. The format provides students an opportunity...