DESE Civics Literacy Conference September 23-24, 2020: Student-led, non-partisan civics projects
Click on the title of the workshop to access the materials.
Student-led Civics in Action: Educator Perspectives
An 8th-grade civics teacher and one of the case contributors of DESE's Civics Project Guidebook will present a six-week-long student-led civics project he conducted in collaboration with Harvard's Democratic Knowledge Project (DKP). In Spring 2018, he piloted a Civic Action Unit, part of a year-long Grade 8 Civics Curriculum that the DKP developed with Cambridge Public Schools in alignment with the new History and Social Science Framework. From the practitioner's perspective, the presenters will share step-by-step procedures and discuss practical issues behind the scenes necessary for the successful implementation of the projects, such as project management, communication with stakeholders, and coordination with IT staff, administration, and school librarians. Critical issues of authenticity, student choice, teacher guidance, assessment, and reflections for further improvement will be discussed. Encouraging active audience participation, attendees will have opportunities to talk with other educators in breakout sessions to discuss multiple pathways of doing student-led civics.
Integrating Media Literacy in Student-Led Civics Projects
How and where should media literacy be integrated into civic learning experiences? Media literacy is foundational for all civics projects. Students need to develop their media literacy skills to be able to effectively access, analyze, interpret, create, and act with different forms of information. These efforts help them better understand and advocate for the issues they care about. This session engages participants in looking closely at the DESE Civics Project Guidebook with participants to reveal the opportunities for evaluating sources and discerning bias, making for a more robust learning experience. Presenters will guide participants through some of best tools and resources available for supporting media literacy skill development. Through practice and application of these skills, students build their capacity to think critically about the roles they can play as members of their community and civic actors.
Now What? Planning and Implementing Opportunities to Develop Student-led Non-partisan Civics Projects
This workshop is a follow up from the Mass Council for the Social Studies (MassCouncil) "Now What?" curriculum leadership workshop series (Feb-Mar 2020) to discuss action steps and planning at the district and school building level. Topics include but are not limited to: budgeting; professional development; networking opportunities; curriculum development; identifying resources, partnership with other departments such as science, ELA, and math; providing support for EL students and students with high needs or with disabilities, transfer students, community outreach and partnerships; opening opportunities for students to develop their projects; and establishing or improving communication between grade spans (especially middle and high school) to ensure continuity and avoid redundancy.
Youth Civic Action: Classroom Tested, Student Approved
This workshop provides opportunities to converse with teachers as well as students who have engaged in student-led civic action projects. We will showcase three years of student-led civic action projects from Amherst Regional Middle School and share how we have combined our previous work with the 2018 Framework and the DESE Civic Project Guidebook. We will share inclusive and social justice-oriented activities, suggest democratic pedagogies, model lesson plans, and connect participants with useful, interactive, and collaborative resources.
Civic Engagement in Practice
How do we empower students to be civically engaged? This question was explored in 10th grade history classes at Bourne High School through the Civics Action Project. This presentation will discuss the process of getting this work started in your classrooms, how to get students excited about using their voice to make change, and how to showcase this work for public viewing. There are two main objectives of this project: 1) Students recognize that their voice, no matter how quiet, can be an agent of change. 2) No matter the outcome of the individual project, students learn that the process to generate awareness of an issue is powerful. Participants will walk away with a resource guide for students, templates for research and action plans, and ideas for showcasing student work. Our goal is to share with others our experience as teachers through the work of our students.
Engage Students with Disabilities in Inquiry and Civic Action
How will your school district ensure that students with disabilities--those on IEP, 504 plans, and other diverse learners--Special Education and 504 plans, can fully and meaningfully participate in the new student-led civic engagement projects at 8th grade and high school? Participants of this 75-minute webinar will examine the 2018 Civic Engagement legislation and DESE Civic Action Project Guide with access for diverse learners in mind; consider overall strategies to support diverse learners in project-based learning; gain access to planning tools and varied resources.
Bringing Action Civics to Life: Student Projects, Teacher Resources, and Practical Advice from Students, Teachers, and GC Staff
As district and school leaders deliberate and consider the benefits and challenges with integrating student-led civics projects, it is imperative to elevate examples of teachers already implementing these projects well. In this workshop, teachers, students, and Generation Citizen staff will discuss their experiences with student-led projects in classrooms, districts and communities – bringing to life examples of classroom stories and experiences of middle school and high school students. In addition, GC staff will share their experience with supporting teachers. We will conclude the workshop with an open Q&A section with students presenting their civics projects.