The Civics Hive

How can we engage youth in a meaningful way in the 2024 election season? Kei  Kawashima-Ginsberg helps us unpack the challenges with promoting civic engagement for K12 students and provides insights into how teachers and administrators can overcome these obstacles through bringing relevance and advocacy. Active civic participation can be a transformative practice in our students’ daily lives. Recorded back in February at the start of the 2024 election season, this episode examines solid approaches to engaging our youth in this important democratic process.

This episode features in-depth conversations with Dr. Leah Bueso, Assistant Professor of Urban Education at the University of Illinois Springfield, about the current challenges that students with disabilities face in terms of civic equity. We discuss how educators and policymakers can work together to create environments that prioritize the civic engagement of students with disabilities. Dr. Bueso also shares with us wisdom in building community engagement that improves civic equity for students with disabilities.

In today's Information Age, a firehose of content blasts at us from every corner of the internet.  Sorting truth from fiction, fact from propaganda, can feel like an impossible task.  But what if there were tools we could use to navigate this digital landscape with confidence?  This episode of The Civics Hive dives deep into the critical skill of civic online reasoning – the ability to critically evaluate the information we encounter online – with our guest, Dr. Joel Breakstone, Director of the Stanford History Education Group and leader of the Digital Inquiry Group.  Dr. Breakstone has dedicated his career to developing free curriculum and assessments that empower students – and citizens of all ages –  to become discerning consumers of online information.

Educating for a Diverse Democracy with Joe Kahne

What does it mean to educate for a diverse democracy? In this episode, Mary Ellen and MJ discuss this essential question of our era with Professor Joe Kahne who teaches at the University of California Riverside and is the Director of the Civic Engagement Research Group (CERG). In November of 2022, Professor Kahne along with his colleague Professor John Rodgers of UCLA, published a report about the challenges of educating for a diverse democracy across the USA with all its purple, red, and blue school districts. We unpack this important question and explore possible ways to accomplish a more democratic society. 

Shaping the Future: AI and Civic Education with Shawn McCusker

This episode dives deep into the potential of Artificial Intelligence to revolutionize civic education. We talk with Shawn McCusker, author of Becoming Active Citizens and Senior Director of Professional Learning at EdTechTeacher, and explore how AI can personalize learning, increase accessibility, and empower citizens. But we also delve into the challenges, like potential bias and ethical considerations. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion as we discuss the future of AI in shaping informed and engaged citizens.

Shawn's Blog
Shawn's work at EdTechTeacher
Shawn's Book, Becoming Active Citizens

Find more resources on civic education at the Illinois Civics Hub!