Participants will learn strategies for teaching students to think critically about technologies from the printing press to ChatGPT. The session will include five “technoskeptical” questions you can use in your classroom and other resources from the Civics of Technology project. The session will provide critical ways to help students think about how technology affects citizenship and democracy. During this session, participants will learn about how to encourage students to practice “technoskeptical” thinking to encourage them to make decisions about the role of technology in our lives and…

Gain tools for cultivating an environment for student agency through teaching and student government using lessons learned from the presenter's classroom experiences. They will gain best practices and walk away with activities for student agency applicable to the civics classroom. This webinar is appropriate for middle and high school civics educators, and instructors interested in learning more about creating opportunities for student agency and civic engagement. All Times Eastern This webinar is part of a series hosted in partnership with the iCivics, Service, and Leadership (iCSL)…

Inviting students to ponder the meaning of secure elections can launch an important discussion about public trust in election results.

Join in a discussion about what makes an argument good. Participants will gain a two-step process that students can use to evaluate and strengthen their arguments in argument map form, either solo or in a peer-review process. We will also consider the role of objections and rebuttals in argument development. How We Argue Webinar Series Educators often want to discuss current issues and empower students to engage as active citizens. Yet, when discussing controversial topics, some students rely on unsubstantiated facts or emotional appeals, rather than evidence and reasoning…

This two-part, interactive webinar series discusses key strategies and essential resources for teaching the upcoming mid-term elections and it's importance at the local and national levels. Series led by Allison Norrie, Social Studies Teacher at Andrew Warde High School in Fairfield, CT and Stephen Armstrong, Social Studies Consultant for the Connecticut Department of Education and Past President of the National Council for the Social Studies with special guest presenter, Sally Whipple, Executive Director of the Connecticut Democracy Center at Connecticut’s Old State House in Hartford, CT.…

In Pursuit of Equity: Book Banning and Censorship Book bans in schools and libraries are on the rise. Last school year, more than 850 individual titles were impacted by censorship efforts of local groups and state decision-makers. How can educators and students navigate censorship in their communities? NCHE and NCSS united for a fourth virtual Equity Summit in October 2023 in support of our history and social studies educators and students, with a focus on book-banning and censorship. These are the session recordings from the Summit. 

"America is an exceptional nation built on a Declaration of Independence and a Constitution that offer a rare collection of inalienable rights and guaranteed freedoms: freedom of speech; freedom of religion; freedom to assemble; freedom of the press; the right to vote; the right to appeal; the right to bear arms. But let’s be honest. A “just government” requires the “consent of the governed,” as Jefferson declared. That is the essence of American democracy. But it is an ideal that must be defended and preserved by vigilant civic engagement. Democracy is not a spectator sport! This webinar…

Learn what’s different about the Educating for American Democracy initiative by seeing the research that undergirds its theory and practice.  Leading researchers involved in the movement will present key principles that evidence how EAD is informed by research and discuss how to collect data to inform practical implementation of the roadmap. Then discuss what key research questions you have to help them develop an EAD research and evaluation agenda. Presenters David Kidd Senior Researcher Harvard Graduate School of Education Joseph Kahne Professor University of California, Riverside Kei…

Often, social studies and history instruction expose students to broad themes and principles like equality and justice, but students lack the ability to apply those principles to historical case studies and current social issues. This webinar will give participants a clear and systematic method through which students can incorporate social and political principles into argumentative classroom discussions and written assignments. How We Argue Webinar Series Educators often want to discuss current issues and empower students to engage as active citizens. Yet, when discussing…

This presentation focuses on the listening and interpretation skills students need to engage in disagreements-- especially when they feel passionate about the topic being debated. Participants will see a series of sample exercises and a project they can use in the classroom to help students practice their close listening and argument analysis skills. How We Argue Webinar Series Educators often want to discuss current issues and empower students to engage as active citizens. Yet, when discussing controversial topics, some students rely on unsubstantiated facts or emotional…