Civic Engagement Teaching Practices

Teaching resources connecting students to the political process.

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How Political Scientists Teach Civic Engagement

Best Practices

Best Practices in Civic Education: Lessons from the Journal of Political Science Education	Elizabeth A. Bennion (Indiana University South Bend) and Xander E. Laughlin (Indiana University South Bend)
Pedagogical Value of Polling-Place Observation by Students	Christopher B. Mann (Skidmore College), Gayle A. Alberda (Fairfield University), Nathaniel Birkhead (Kansas State University), and Yu Ouyang (Purdue University Northwest)
From Classroom to Community: An Assessment and Potential Implications of an Undergraduate Civic Engagement Research and Learning Program	Matt Lamb (Texas Tech University) Steven Perry (Rice University) Alan Steinberg (West Houston Association)
Fostering and Measuring Civic Agency in an American Government Course	Daniel J. Mallinson (Penn State Harrisburg) Laura Cruz (Penn State)
Creating “Civic Sense”: Implementing Civic Engagement Courses in All Disciplines	Connie Jorgensen (Piedmont Virginia Community College)
Small-Scale Civic Engagement with Big Impacts	William O’Brochta (Texas Lutheran University)
Civic Engagement Leadership Program	Josh Franco (Cuyamaca College)
Logging in to Learn: The Effects of Online Civic Education Pedagogy on a Latinx and AAPI Civic Engagement Youth Conference	Matt Lamb (Texas Tech University)
Civic Engagement in Political Science	Karen M. Kedrowski (Iowa State University)
The Changing Landscape: The Role of Civic Education on Political Efficacy Among Latina/os and Asian Americans	Nathan Chan (University of California, Irvine) Benjamin Hoyt (University of California, Irvine)
Service Guarantees Citizenship: Portfolio Work, Populism, and Scaffolding in Introductory American Government Classrooms	Kimberly Saks McManaway (University of Michigan at Flint) Kevin G. Lorentz, II (University of Michigan at Flint)
Let’s Get Political: Co-Creating and Assessing Civic Learning and Engagement	Abraham Goldberg (James Madison University) Dena A. Pastor (James Madison University) Carah Ong Whaley (James Madison University)
Giving All College Students What They Need to Become Active Citizens: Tailoring Civic Learning to Students' Lived Experiences	J. Cherie Strachan (The University of Akron)
Practicing Democratic Engagement in the Political Science Classroom	George Davis (Marshall University)
A Pedagogy of Civic Engagement for the Undergraduate Political Science Classroom	Debra L. DeLaet (Drake University)
Teaching Active Citizenship: A Companion to the Traditional Political Science Curriculum	Michael Smith (Emporia State University) and The Honorable Bob Graham (US Senate, Retired)
Teaching Community Organizing and the Practice of Democracy	Jyl Josephson (Rutgers University-Newark)

Facilitating Inclusive and Productive Political Dialogue

The #RiceBreaker: Facilitating Intercultural Dialogues in the Classroom by Engaging Shared Experiences	Amber Spry (Brandeis)
Talking Politics: Creating a Course for Incoming Freshman on Political Discourse	Elizabeth C. Matto (Rutgers University-New Brunswick) and Randi Chmielewski (Rutgers University-New Brunswick)
Promoting Productive Political Dialogue in Online Discussion Forums	Aaron S. King (UNC Wilmington), J. Benjamin (Kennesaw State University), and Taylor, Brian M. Webb (Gordon State College)
The Effects of Controversial Classroom Debates on Political Interest: An Experimental Approach	Renee Sanjuan, United States Military Academy, and Eleni M. Mantas Sacred Heart University
Building Political Discourse Skills: Students as Teachers	Lynne Chandler Garcia (U.S. Air Force Academy), Stacy Ulbig (Sam Houston State University)
Teaching Students to Hear the Other Side: Using Web Design and Election Events to Build Empathy in the Political Science Classroom	Leslie Caughell (Virginia Wesleyan University)

Active Learning Ideas

Bring a Friend Along: How Engaged Learning Assignments Can Involve Students’ Social Networks and Produce Spillover Effects	Meghan Condon (University of Chicago)
Cultivating Campaign Managers: A Discussion Regarding the Creation and Implementation of a Campaign Management Course	Amber R. Dickinson (Oklahoma State University)
Using Creative Assignments to Help Students Integrate Their Learning in a Campaigns and Elections Class	Jeffrey L. Bernstein (East Michigan University), et. al.
Student-Run Exit Polls 101	Sarah E. Croco (University of Maryland), Elizabeth Suhay (American University), Rachel Blum (Miami University), and Lilliana Mason (University of Maryland)

Connecting Students to State and Local Politics

"Civic Engagement as Critical Pedagogy at Middle Tennessee State University"	Sekou Franklin (Middle Tennessee State University)
Community Engagement and State Legislative Research	Anna Mitchell Mahoney (Newcomb Institute at Tulane University)
Antiracist Pedagogy in Direct Advocacy Courses	Kathleen Cole (Metropolitan State University)
Service-Learning and Civic Engagement: Environmental Awareness in Hawai‘i	Monique Mironesco (University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ah)
Institutionalizing Internships: Enhanced Civic Culture via State Capital Internship Programs	Lauren S. Foley (Western Michigan University), Marty P. Jordan (Michigan State University)
Engaging in Local Issues to Benefit the Community and Enhance Student Learning	David J. Hurley (Indiana University South Bend), Kayla C. Isenbletter (Indiana University South Bend), Elizabeth A. Bennion (Indiana University South Bend)
Can all (Intro to American) Politics be local?	Emily M. Farris (Texas Christian University)
“I Researched the Sheriff, and I Researched All the Other Local Races”	Emily M. Farris (Texas Christian University), Mirya R. Holman (Tulane University)
Teaching the Power of Local Political Participation	Melissa Michelson, Menlo College

Experiential Learning

Building Community to Promote Civic Engagement: The Town Hall Meeting Program at California State University, Fullerton	Scott J. Spitzer (California State University, Fullerton) Lori M. Weber (California State University, Chico)
Bring a Friend Along: How Engaged Learning Assignments Can Involve Students’ Social Networks and Produce Spillover Effects	Meghan Condon (Loyola University Chicago)
We the People, We the Process: Engaging Students in Election Administration	Carah Ong Whaley (University of Virginia) & Angelina Clapp (James Madison University)
How Colleges Can Help Overcome the National Poll Worker Shortage	Andrew J. Seligsohn and Emily Bottie (Campus Compact)
Service-Learning at a Hispanic-Serving Institution: A Preliminary Study	Andrew Hewitt Smith (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley)
Teaching the Town Hall: Incorporating Experiential Learning in a Large Introductory Lecture Course	Jennifer Forestal (Loyola University Chicago) and Jessie K. Finch (Northern Arizona University)
Advocating for Engagement: Do Experiential Learning Courses Boost Civic Engagement?	Robert W. Glover (University of Maine) Daniel C. Lewis (Siena College), Richard J. Meagher (Randolph-Macon College), Katherine A. Owens (University of Hartford in Connecticut)
When the Party Comes to Town: Experiential Learning During a Presidential Nominating Convention	Karen M. Kedrowski (Winthrop University) and Katarina Duich Moyon (Winthrop University)

Example Syllabi

Preparing Students for the Post Election Climate

‘We Have to Fight Back’: Students’ Thoughts, Feelings, and Plans for Action the Day after the 2016 Election	Clarissa Hayward (Washington University, St. Louis)
What to Expect When You’re Electing	Shannon Bow O’Brien (University of Texas at Austin)
The Presidential Election “Postmortem”: Preparing Students for Election Outcomes	Athena King (Virginia State University)

APSA's Teaching Civic Engagement Book Series

Teaching Civic Engagement Globally (2021)

Provides a wide range of pedagogical tools to help the current generation learn to effectively navigate debates and lead changes in local, national, and global politics.

Teaching-Civic-Engagement-Across-the-Disciplines-002-210x300

Teaching Civic Engagement Across the Disciplines (2017)

Explains how campuses can promote high quality education for civic engagement, providing a wealth of examples of successful practices, techniques, and assessment strategies.

Teaching Civic Engagement: From Student to Active Citizen (2013)

Provides an exploration of key theoretical discussions, innovative ideas, and best practices in educating citizens in the 21st century.

View APSA's Teaching Civic Engagement Book Series Resource Collection