EDSS 518 - Civics and Government

The United States has the longest-running democracy in the modern world, but many people in our nation are abrogating their rights and responsibilities through a lack of knowledge of and involvement in our democracy. As educators, we are a primary resource to guide the next generation in understanding both the content and the active practices that citizens need to know to maintain our nation as a republic and a democracy.

In this course, you will develop strategies for engaging grade 6-12 students in civics and democratic practices. You’ll learn techniques for teaching essential standards such as the purpose and nature of government, how to read our founding documents, the interplay between the three branches of government, how our election system works, and how to express beliefs and differences in a productive manner. In addition, you’ll explore a myriad of resources you can start using in your classroom today to encourage your students to engage in civic processes.

Using the resources and methods from this course, you will be able to guide your students to become knowledgeable, contributing members of our country who work to preserve our freedoms for the next generation.