This show explores how we can prepare the next generation for informed civic engagement, environmental stewardship, and the development of a more just and peaceful world. Host Brett Levy is a researcher of civic and environmental education and an associate professor at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Episodes feature interviews with leaders, innovators, and scholars in civic and environmental education. You’ll hear about new classroom-based and online practices that generate students’ involvement in public issues, youth-adult partnerships that improve communities, what research tells us about how to broaden young people’s engagement in environmental issues, and more. Please subscribe and tell a friend about the show. For information about upcoming episodes, guests, and more, please visit www.esdpodcast.org. Thank you!
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The Education for Sustainable Democracy podcast is an exceptional resource that is both timely and valuable. Hosted by Brett Levy, this podcast covers a diverse range of topics that are relevant to teachers and educators, with a particular focus on social studies education. The conversations presented in each episode are engaging and thought-provoking, providing listeners with opportunities to learn and grow.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is its ability to tackle important discussions around what it means to be an active participant in a healthy democracy. In today's world, where political divisions and polarization are rampant, it is crucial for teachers and educators to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage meaningfully in their communities. The Education for Sustainable Democracy podcast addresses these issues head-on, offering insights and strategies for fostering civic engagement.
Additionally, the variety of topics covered in this podcast make it highly beneficial for teachers at all levels. Whether you're a seasoned educator or just starting out, there is something for everyone in these episodes. From exploring different pedagogical approaches to discussing the role of social media in democracy, each conversation offers valuable perspectives that can be applied in the classroom.
While there are many positive aspects to The Education for Sustainable Democracy podcast, one potential downside is its narrow focus on social studies education. While this subject area is undeniably important when it comes to civic education, it would be beneficial to see more episodes that encompass other disciplines as well. Including discussions on science literacy or environmental education, for example, would further enhance the breadth of topics covered.
In conclusion, The Education for Sustainable Democracy podcast is an excellent resource that tackles important conversations pertaining to civic engagement and democracy. Brett Levy does a commendable job bringing these discussions to listeners through engaging content that will resonate with educators at all levels. This podcast fills an urgent need in today's society by empowering teachers with the knowledge and tools they need to inspire their students towards active participation in a robust and vibrant democracy.
In today's environment, how should teachers help students understand immigration? How can they create a classroom culture in which students can discuss these kinds of highly sensitive and personal controversial issues? And why is it important that we give students the chance to talk about these issues?To examine these issues, Brett speaks to Zorielle Rodriguez-Alcazar, a veteran high school teacher at Peekskill High School in Peekskill, New York. Zorielle, who is also a doctoral student in the University at Albany's School of Education, is a creative and thoughtful veteran social studies educator who gets to know her students well and adjusts the curriculum to engage their interests. In this episode, Zorielle shares her experiences and suggestions for how to develop a positive democratic classroom culture that enables teachers to generate powerful discussions of challenging public issues.Episode ResourcesImmigration Stories Project from U. of MinnesotaResources for Teaching about Immigration from Learning for JusticeESD ResourcesBrett Levy's Open Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy SiteESD Facebook Page (Please like!)ESD YouTube Channel (Please subscribe!)Related ESD EpisodesCurrent Events Instruction in Early 2025, with Kyle Dalton (Lansingburgh High School, Lansingburgh, NY)Integrating History & Current Events and Creating an Open Classroom Climate, with Amber Joseph (East Side Community School, New York City)Engagement & Equity in Civic Education, with Professor Jane Lo (Michigan State University)Guiding Productive Political Discussions, with Diana Hess (University of Wisconsin-Madison)Support the show
How can technology enhance students' engagement in classroom learning? When are technologies helpful, and when are they harmful? In this episode, I talk to Dr. Dan Krutka, associate professor of social studies education at the University of North Texas. Dan's research sits at the intersection of technology, education, and democracy. We discuss how teachers can decide which technologies would strengthen their teaching or whether technologies would even be helpful at all. We also discuss many specific online tools and how they can be useful for enhancing student engagement and learning. In our conversation, Dan touches on a variety of other issues, as well, such as how to teach effectively in online learning environments.This episode was originally released in 2021. Links Related to this Episode:Dan Krutka's HomepagePICRAT Model for Tech Integration in Teacher Ed (CITE Journal)Glenn Wiebe's Blog - Technology in Social Studies Ed Teacher Resources:Padlet Site (digital creation tool)DocsTeach Site (primary sources & activities)Chronicling America (historical newspapers)Smithsonian Learning Labs (documents, recordings, images, & more)The Redistricting Game (simulation about gerrymandering)ESD Podcast Resources:Education for Sustainable Democracy SiteBrett's Open Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)Support the show
In classrooms around the country and beyond, teachers and students are navigating how to discuss the quick and often surprising actions of our current federal administration. How can and how should teachers help students understand and think critically about these issues? In this episode, Brett speaks with Kyle Dalton, a veteran teacher at Lansingburgh High School in Troy, New York. Kyle is a high-energy social studies educator who prioritizes his relationships with his students and generating their long-term interest in civic and social learning. He teaches various subjects, including sociology, psychology, civics, and economics. Listen as Kyle shares his experiences and suggestions for not only how to get students engaged in civic issues but also how to foster their informed critical thinking and how to create a strong, trusting classroom community. Episode ResourcesKyle Dalton's Instructional Resources (coming soon)Lansingburgh High School siteESD ResourcesBrett Levy's Open Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy SiteESD Facebook Page (Please like!)ESD YouTube Channel (Please subscribe!)Related ESD EpisodesIntegrating History & Current Events and Creating an Open Classroom Climate, with Amber Joseph (East Side Community School, New York City)Engagement & Equity in Civic Education, with Professor Jane Lo (Michigan State University)Guiding Productive Political Discussions, with Diana Hess (University of Wisconsin-Madison)Support the show
How can educators create more holistic learning experiences for students? How can higher education better prepare students to become active civic participants? In this episode, Brett speaks with two educational leaders and innovators from Prescott College, based in Arizona. Emily Affolter is the director of Prescott's doctoral program in sustainability education and an expert in culturally responsive teaching, and Pavel Cenkl is Prescott's dean of academic affairs. In our conversation, we discuss how Prescott integrates its core principles of regenerative sustainability, experiential learning, creativity, and justice into their programs; and we also discuss what brought Pavel and Emily to this work after their varied prior experiences in education. Resources Related to this EpisodeEmily Affolter's WebsitePavel Cenkl's WebsitePrescott College WebsiteESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Support the show
We all know that we could be doing a better job preparing young people for civic participation – and government officials and the public largely agree, but few organizations focus primarily on addressing this problem. Democracy Ready New York is one of the groups that's taking action on this issue – advocating for government policies to better support civic education and broadening public engagement in the issue. This episode features the leader of Democracy Ready New York, Michael Rebell. Since 2005, Michael has served as the Executive Director of the Center for Educational Equity at Teachers College, Columbia University. Over the past few years, he and other staff at the Center have built a coalition of individuals and organizations with an interest in civic education. Today this coalition, Democracy Ready New York, is working to improve various aspects of civic education, including media literacy, classrooms discussions, equity, and more. In his conversation with Brett, Michael talks about the goals of the organization, the accomplishments of its various committees, and the group's plans to diversity its efforts to improve civic education. This episode was originally released in May, 2022.Resources Related to this EpisodeMichael Rebell's WebsiteDemocracy Ready New York WebsiteCivXNow (Civic Education Advocacy)ESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Related ESD EpisodesA Congressional Bill to Strengthen Civic Education, with Cat McDonald (DC Lobbyist for Civic Ed)Guiding Productive Political Discussions, with Diana Hess (University of Wisconsin-Madison)Engagement & Equity in Civic Education (with Prof. Jane Lo)Support the show
Educators around the country have been increasingly interested in expanding the teaching of African-American history, and many resources have been created to help. At the same time, scholars have begun to explore how African-American history is represented in these resources, in standards, in popular textbooks, and beyond. One emerging scholar in this area is Brittany Jones, an assistant professor at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Her work explores how emotions are represented in the curriculum, how we can help students consider the lived emotions of those in the past, whether or not some types history should be deemed "difficult" for students, and much more. On this episode, Brittany discusses these issues and how she arrived at these questions.Episode ResourcesBrittany Jones's Faculty PageCenter for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy EducationBrittany's Google Scholar PageThe 1619 Project CurriculumKey Articles by Brittany JonesFeeling fear as power and oppression: An examination of Black and white fear in Virginia's U.S. history standards and curriculum frameworkWhat is the word “difficult” doing in social studies research?: A systematic literature review of empirical research on difficult knowledges and histories, 2004–2022ESD ResourcesBrett Levy's Open Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy SiteESD Facebook Page (Please like!)ESD YouTube Channel (Please subscribe!)Related ESD EpisodesIntegrating History & Current Events and Creating an Open Classroom Climate, with Amber Joseph (East Side Community School, New York City)Engagement & Equity in Civic Education, with Professor Jane Lo (Michigan State University)Guiding Productive Political Discussions, with Diana Hess (University of Wisconsin-Madison)Support the show
How can we teach about elections in ways that support students' political engagement and also strengthen their willingness to consider diverse perspectives? In this episode, Brett draws on his own research to address this question, offering practical tips for the classroom.Related ResourcesTeaching Elections SiteEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please subscribe!)Related ESD EpisodesThe Seal of Civic Readiness for High School Diplomas, with Lisa Kissinger (New York State Council for the Social Studies)Lateral Reading & Other Media Literacy Skills, with Sarah McGrew (University of Maryland)Teaching Elections & Modeling Political Tolerance, with Wayne Journell (University of North Carolina, Greensboro)Support the show
This is a rebroadcast of an interview with Professor Wayne Journell about teaching elections, recorded in 2020. How should educators teach about elections? How can they maximize student learning, foster engagement, and minimize overly heated exchanges among students? Professor Wayne Journell from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, has conducted research on how high school teachers help students learn about elections. He describes how teachers can frame productive discussion of elections, integrate election-related content into other aspects of the curriculum, and model a tolerant attitudes towards different political perspectives. Dr. Journell also explains how educators can help students navigate our complex media landscape and avoid falling victim to misinformation. Resources Related to this EpisodeTeaching Elections WebsiteWayne Journell's WebsiteTheory & Research in Social EducationESD Podcast ResourcesBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett Levy's Twitter/X Handle: @brettlmlevyEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageSupport the show
How should secondary school teachers help their student learn about the election during this heated political moment? In this episode, Brett speaks to Dan Hornick, who teaches high school government in a politically diverse district in upstate New York. Dan shares his insights, experiences, and suggestions on teaching about elections in the current era. He also explains how to get students to develop good media literacy habits and become engaged in local civic issues. Dan brings to this discussion over two decades of classroom experience and years working in local government in various positions. Episode ResourcesNew York State's Seal of Civic Readiness SiteBrett Levy's Teaching Elections SiteESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please subscribe!)Related ESD EpisodesThe Seal of Civic Readiness for High School Diplomas, with Lisa Kissinger (New York State Council for the Social Studies)Lateral Reading & Other Media Literacy Skills, with Sarah McGrew (University of Maryland)Teaching Elections & Modeling Political Tolerance, with Wayne Journell (University of North Carolina, Greensboro)Support the show
As the central adults in children's lives, what should be the role of parents in creating well-informed and active civic participants? This episode's guest wrote a book to help answer that question. Lindsay Cormack is an associate professor of political science at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, and this month, she released a new book entitled, “How to Raise a Citizen (and why it's up to you to do it).” Her book and this episode are full of practical advice and rules of thumb that can be useful to many parents uncertain of how to support their children's civic development.Episode ResourcesHow to Raise a CitizenLindsey Cormack faculty homepageNational Association for Media Literacy EducationESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please subscribe!)Popular ESD EpisodesLateral Reading & Other Media Literacy Skills, with Sarah McGrew (University of Maryland)Integrating History and Current Events & Creating an Open Classroom Climate (with teacher Amber Joseph)Building a Movement for Civic Education, with Michael Rebell (Teachers College, Columbia University)Support the Show.
How can young people living in vastly different communities learn to understand each others' political perspectives? The Youth Civic Connections Project aims to answer that question. This episode explores the origins of this project and how it will expand this fall.More on the Youth Civic Connections ProjectProject Overview on Carnegie SiteESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please subscribe!)Popular ESD EpisodesIntegrating History and Current Events & Creating an Open Classroom Climate (with teacher Amber Joseph)Learning to Care for Our Community Environments (with Prof. Ethan Lowenstein)Engagement & Equity in Civic Education (with Prof. Jane Lo)Support the Show.
How can educators create inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ youth? To explore this question, Brett speaks to a veteran middle school social studies teacher in Massachusetts, Marc Lewis, who has been enacting and experimenting with strategies and curricula to help all of his students feel welcome in his classroom – and to help them understand the complexity and truth of our world and its history. In our conversation, Marc describes how he builds a trusting classroom community, how he physically designs his classroom, how he integrates LGBTQ+ history into his curriculum, how he shares his own identity as an openly gay man, and how he has responded to challenges related to these practices. Marc also describes a variety of resources (links below) that listeners can check out if they want to learn more about this type of work.Marc Lewis holds a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has taught social studies at R.J. Grey Junior High School in Acton, Massachusetts, for over twenty years.To support this show, please subscribe, give it five stars in your podcast app, and share an episode with a friend! This episode originally aired in February of 2022.LGBTQ+ Teaching Resources We the Future Posters & ImagesLearning for Justice Resources on Gender & Sexual IdentityGay, Lesbian, & Straight Educator Network (GLSEN) SiteLGBTQ+ History Timeline (GLSEN)Lesson Plan for LGBTQ+ History TimelineOther Lesson Plans on LGBTQ+ Issues (GLSEN)Inclusive Curriculum Guide (GLSEN)ESD Podcast Resources:Education for Sustainable Democracy SiteBrett Levy's Open-Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)ESD YouTube Channel (Please subscribe!)Support the Show.
How do we ensure that elections are free and fair? For the past few years, we've heard more and more false claims about stolen elections, but the truth is that our election systems are very well-managed. Yes, there are areas where systems can be improved, but among the biggest problems in our election system now are misinformation about the elections and the skepticism that this creates.In this episode, I speak with Meghan Cook, Program Director of the Center for Technology in Government at the University at Albany, and two election experts – Tom Connolly, the Director of Election Operations at the New York State Board of Elections, and Brendan Lovullo, the Deputy Director of Election Operations at the New York State Board of Elections. In our discussion, we talk about how elections are managed in New York State and elsewhere, and we address some common misconceptions head-on. We talk about how votes are counted, how election machines are secured, how election workers address problems that arise, and much more.This episode was first aired in November of 2022. Featured Link: Our Article on Teaching about Election IntegrityOur Guests & Related ResourcesMegan Cook's WebsiteCenter for Technology in Government at UAlbanyNew York State Board of Elections WebsiteESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett's Twitter Page for Handle @brettlmlevyRelated Episodes of ESDBuilding a Movement for Civic Education, with Michael Rebell (Teachers College, Columbia University)A Congressional Bill to Strengthen Civic Education, with Cat McDonald (DC Lobbyist for Civic Ed)Support the Show.
What if a school made preparation for democracy its central goal? That's what Democracy Prep tries to do - not in just one school but in many. This charter school network includes 24 schools in five states, with schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. In this episode, Brett talks to Rashid Duroseau, the Civics Program Director at Democracy Prep. Rashid describes the civic participation experiences that these schools require of students, how various courses integrate civic issues into the curriculum, how he found his way into education, and more. This a rebroadcast of an episode first aired in early 2022. More about Democracy PrepThe Civics Program at Democracy PrepDemocracy Prep Public Schools HomepageUSA Today Story on Democracy Prep's Teaching of U.S. HistoryEmpirical Study of Democracy Prep's Effects on Students (by Mathematica) Rashid Duroseau's Brief BioESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please subscribe!)Related ESD EpisodesCivically Engaged Districts Project, Part 1 (with Administrators & Prof. Beth Rubin)Civically Engaged Districts Project, Part 2 (with Students & Teachers)Engagement & Equity in Civic Education (with Prof. Jane Lo)Support the show
This is a rebroadcast of an interview with Professor Wayne Journell about teaching elections, recorded in 2020. How should educators teach about elections? How can they maximize student learning, foster engagement, and minimize overly heated exchanges among students? Professor Wayne Journell from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, has conducted research on how high school teachers help students learn about elections. He describes how teachers can frame productive discussion of elections, integrate election-related content into other aspects of the curriculum, and model a tolerant attitudes towards different political perspectives. Dr. Journell also explains how educators can help students navigate our complex media landscape and avoid falling victim to misinformation. Resources Related to this Episode:Article: Teaching the 2020 Election, by Wayne JournellWayne Journell's WebsiteTheory & Research in Social EducationTeaching Elections WebsiteESD Podcast ResourcesBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett Levy's Twitter/X Handle: @brettlmlevyEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageSupport the show
We have millions of young people in school every year who become eligible to register during their time in school, but there are few mechanisms in place to get them registered. Laura Brill is starting to change that. Through her new organization, the Civics Center, she's trying to make voter registration drives a regular feature of high schools around the country. We discuss why she started the organization, how they reach students, the variety of ways that voter registration drive can take place in schools, how educators can get involved, and much more. Episode ResourcesThe Civics Center HomepageAbout Laura BrillEducator Workshops for Voter Registration DrivesStudent Resources for Voter Registration DrivesBrett's Teaching Elections SiteESD Podcast ResourcesBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett Levy's Twitter Page: Handle @brettlmlevyEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageRelated Episodes of ESDLearning about Election IntegrityDemocracy Prep: A Charter School NetworkSeal of Civic Readiness for High School StudentsA High School Course on Public PolicySupport the show
In today's media environment, there's no shortage of information and disinformation – so how do we know if we're being misled? How can young people know? The ability to tell fact from fiction is vital for maintaining a healthy civil society, and researchers are exploring how to teach these skills. On this episode, Brett speaks with Sarah McGrew, a cutting-edge researcher in this area. After earning her PhD at Stanford in 2019, she joined the faculty at the University of Maryland, where she has several ongoing studies about fostering students' media literacy. On this episode, she discusses her research, key findings, and practical advice for educators and parents. Episode ResourcesAbout Sarah McGrewSarah McGrew's Articles (Google Scholar)Media Literacy Standards MapBrett's Media Literacy Education PaperESD Podcast ResourcesBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett Levy's Twitter Page: Handle @brettlmlevyEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageRelated Episodes of ESD Helping Youth Become Critical News Consumers, with John Silva and Miriam Romais (News Literacy Project)Teaching Social & Historical Issues through Film, with Jeremy Stoddard (University of Wisconsin-Madison) Combatting Misinformation in the Classroom, with John Silva and Miriam Romais (News Literacy Project) Support the show
What do students learn when they discuss controversial political issues? What are the benefits and limitations? How can teachers guide these discussions and maintain a positive classroom environment? In this episode - published originally in late 2020, renowned social studies education scholar Diana Hess explores these questions, drawing on her two decades of research in classrooms. Hess is professor and dean at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education and has written two award-winning books about how young people can learn about and productively discuss controversial political issues. In this episode, she describes her major research findings and what they mean for teachers, and she also considers how educators should help students understand some challenging current issues, such as claims of widespread voter fraud and Donald Trump's refusal to concede or facilitate a smooth presidential transition.Episode Resources:Article on Diana HessThe Political Classroom, by Diana Hess and Paula McAvoyVideos of Teaching Discussion Skills (by CERG)Structured Academic Controversy Discussion ModelBrett Levy's Article Featuring a Structured Academic ControversyOther ESD Resources:Brett Levy's Other Open-Access Research ArticlesESD Episode on Teaching the Capitol RiotESD Episode on Teaching Elections & Political ToleranceSupport the show
The recent conflict in Israel and Gaza has been upsetting to so many of us and to so many young people. How should educators respond? How should they help their students make sense of these events? On this show, I speak with Lauraine Langreo, a staff writer at Education Week who has written two recent articles on these questions. We discuss these articles, the resources that she recommends, and what she's learned about how teachers and administrators are addressing the conflict - and related conflicts among students - in schools.Episode ResourcesAbout Lauraine LangreoLangreo: Resources for Addressing the Israel-Hamas War in the ClassroomLangreo: How Teachers are Addressing the Israel-Hamas WarBrett's Media Literacy Education PaperESD Podcast ResourcesBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett Levy's Twitter Page: Handle @brettlmlevyEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageRelated Episodes of ESDResources for Teaching about the War in Ukraine, with Rashid Duroseau (Democracy Prep)Play it Safe or Take a Risk?: Tradeoffs & Decision in Teaching Controversial Issues, with Judy Pace (University of San Francisco)Helping Youth Become Critical News Consumers, with John Silva and Miriam Romais (News Literacy Project)Support the show
How should educators prepare youth for democratic participation at a moment when democracy itself seems so fragile? For ESD's third anniversary episode, Walter Parker, professor emeritus at the University of Washington - Seattle, explores the answer to this question by sharing ideas from his new book, Education for Liberal Democracy: Using Classroom Discussion to Build Knowledge and Voice. Walter Parker is one of the most influential social studies education scholars of our time. In his new book and on this episode, he argues that education can and must address a twofold crisis in our democracy – a legitimacy crisis and an epistemic crisis. Brett and Walter discuss how this can be done in the classroom and beyond. Episode ResourcesAbout Walter ParkerWalter's New Book: Education for Liberal DemocracyWalter's Knowledge-in-Action ProjectGutman's Book: Democratic EducationBrett's Media Literacy Education PaperESD Podcast ResourcesBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett Levy's Twitter Page: Handle @brettlmlevyEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageRelated Episodes of ESDEngagement & Equity in Civic Education, with Jane Lo (Michigan State)The Civically Engaged Districts Project, with Beth Rubin (Rutgers) and NJ District Administrators (New Brunswick Public Schools)Helping Youth Become Critical News Consumers, with John Silva and Miriam Romais (News Literacy Project)Support the show
How can literacy learning support civic engagement? How can educators best support the literacy learning of young African-American males? On this episode, Brett speaks with Kewsi Burgess, a veteran middle school teacher in the City School District of Albany. Dr. Burgess recently earned his doctoral degree at the University at Albany, and his dissertation closely examined how one seasoned African-American educator supported the literacy learning of the black boys in his classroom. In this interview, he explains how literacy learning is intertwined with civic education and how teachers can create a positive classroom culture that encourages broad and meaningful participation. Kewsi also discusses his personal and professional journey and how he is using what he learned in his dissertation study. Episode ResourcesArticle about Kewsi BurgessVideo featuring Kewsi BurgessE. Moje on Adolescent LiteracyESD Podcast ResourcesBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett Levy's Twitter Page: Handle @brettlmlevyEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageRelated Episodes of ESDThe Civically Engaged Districts Project, with Beth Rubin (Rutgers) and NJ District Administrators (New Brunswick Public Schools)Helping Youth Become Critical News Consumers, with John Silva and Miriam Romais (News Literacy Project)Support the show
How can we help young people learn to care for their local communities and their natural environments? Ethan Lowenstein believes that a big part of the answer is place-based education - a method that enables youth to explore, analyze, and begin to address local challenges. Lowenstein is a professor at Eastern Michigan University and the director of the Southeast Michigan Stewardship (SEMIS) Coalition, which has built a broad network of educators and local organizations to foster place-based education in Michigan and beyond. In this "Best of ESD" episode, first published in 2021, Lowenstein tells Brett about how the principles of place-based education have driven the SEMIS Coalition's sustained success, growth, and sense of community. Resources Related to SEMIS:Southeast Michigan Stewardship (SEMIS) Coalition SiteArticle about Ethan LowensteinSEMIS in the NewsSEMIS Coalition Facebook PageMore on Related Topics:Place-Based Education Videos, by EdutopiaBrett Levy's Paper on "Civic Science Education"Brett Levy's Paper on Environmental Political ParticipationBrett Levy's Other Open-Access Research ArticlesPlace-Based Teacher Preparation Program at Eastern Michigan UniversityESD Resources:ESD Episode on Mikva Challenge (mentioned by Ethan)Education for Sustainable Democracy HomepageEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook PageESD YouTube Channel (Please subscribe!)Support the show
This is a re-broadcast of one of ESD's most popular episodes. Amber Joseph, a public school social studies teacher in New York City, discusses how teachers can create safe spaces for discussing controversial public issues and how they can guide students to explore potentially emotion-laden current events, such as police shootings. We also consider how history teachers can integrate current events into their curricula. Ms. Joseph currently teaches 8th grade history and civics at East Side Community School in Manhattan. Enjoy hearing from this dynamic and wise educator.Resources Related to this EpisodeVideo Highlights of this Episode (15 min)Webinar on Discussing Controversial Issues in Classrooms, featuring Amber, Brett, & Others (Democracy Ready NY Coalition)Amber's Article on Pandemic Teaching (New York Review of Books)Brett Levy's Article on Generating Dynamic Classroom Discussions (The Social Studies)Brett Levy's Other Open Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy SiteESD Facebook Page (Please like!)ESD YouTube Channel (Please subscribe!)Related ESD EpisodesVoice from the Classroom: Teaching the Capitol Riot in a Politically Diverse High School (with Lauren Collet-Gildard, Arlington High School)Guiding Productive Political Discussions, with Diana Hess (University of Wisconsin-Madison)Teaching Elections & Modeling Political Tolerance, with Wayne Journell (University of North Carolina at Greensboro)Engagement & Equity in Civic Education, with Professor Jane Lo (Michigan State University)Support the show
How can state laws improve civic education, and how can research-practice partnerships support the enactment of these state laws? This episode explores how an ambitious Illinois civic education law, passed in 2015, is being enacted with the help of a research-practice partnership. I speak with Kei Kawashima-Ginsburg and Mary Ellen Daneels, who are leading this partnership, which has helped tens of thousands of educators strengthen their civics-oriented teaching. Kei is the Director of CIRCLE, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, and Mary Ellen is the Director of the Illinois Civics Hub and the Illinois Democracy Schools Network. In our conversation, we discuss how their work is helping teachers enact best practices in civic education, including service learning, simulations, and discussions of controversial issues.Episode ResourcesIllinois Civics HubOnline Civic Ed Professional DevelopmentCIRCLE (Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement)Research-Practice Partnership NetworkESD Podcast ResourcesBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett Levy's Twitter Page: Handle @brettlmlevyEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageRelated Episodes of ESDBuilding a Movement for Civic Education, with Michael Rebell (Teachers College, Columbia University)The Civically Engaged Districts Project, with Beth Rubin (Rutgers) and NJ District Administrators (New Brunswick Public Schools)Youth Exploring Public Issues & Taking Action, with Jill Bass (Mikva Challenge)Students Addressing Public Issues through Action Civics, with Scott Warren (Generation Citizen)Support the show
How can high school courses help adolescents learn to carefully analyze public policies and summarize their analyses in writing? In this episode, veteran teacher Tim Northrop explains how his public policy courses foster these important skills. He also discusses how these courses support students' capacities in media literacy and civil discourse - and how these skills could be integrated into other courses.Episode ResourcesUniversity in the High School Program at SyracuseUniversity in the High School Program at UAlbanyESD Podcast ResourcesBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett Levy's Twitter Page: Handle @brettlmlevyEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageRelated Episodes of ESDYouth Exploring Public Issues & Taking Action, with Jill Bass (Mikva Challenge)Students Addressing Public Issues through Action Civics, with Scott Warren (Generation Citizen) Support the show
In this episode, Brett Levy summarizes how concepts of intrinsic motivation, civically engaging pedagogy, and inquiry-based learning can help to strengthen civic and social studies education.Episode ResourcesBrett's Article on Civic Science Education Brett's Article on Inquiry-Based LearningNew York State Council for the Social Studies SiteESD Podcast ResourcesBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett Levy's Twitter Page: Handle @brettlmlevyEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageRelated Episodes of ESDYouth Exploring Public Issues & Taking Action, with Jill Bass (Mikva Challenge)Students Addressing Public Issues through Action Civics, with Scott Warren (Generation Citizen)Support the show
How can we help young people build the skills they need to become advocates for environmental sustainability? In this episode, Professor A.J. Schneller of Skidmore College describes how his course helps students develop their advocacy toolkit by requiring them to create a website, write an op-ed, author a policy memo for a public official, design a public service announcement, write an elevator speech, and more.Episode ResourcesA.J. Schneller's SiteSyllabus for the Environmental Advocacy Bootcamp CourseEnvironmental Justice AtlasESD Podcast ResourcesBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett Levy's Twitter Page: Handle @brettlmlevyEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageRelated Episodes of ESDYouth Exploring Public Issues & Taking Action, with Jill Bass (Mikva Challenge)Students Addressing Public Issues through Action Civics, with Scott Warren (Generation Citizen)Support the show
How can young people learn to share their stories and perspectives through podcasts? In this episode, we hear about a youth podcasting program for Latino and Latina youth in Madison Wisconsin. Gerardo Mancilla, a professor at Edgewood College, and Luz Rodriguez Camacho, a student who completed the program (who now attends college at Dominican University in Illinois) tell us about how the program worked, what students learned from the experience, how the program was funded, how it might expand, and much more.Guests & Their WorkSanchez Scholars ProgramSanchez Scholars on InstagramSanchez Scholars Email Address: sanchezscholars@gmail.comEducators and Immigration Podcast (Gerardo's Podcast)Educators and Immigration on InstagramGerardo Mancilla on InstagramAnjuli Brekke's WebsiteLuz's Handle on Instagram: @rodri.l.lESD Podcast ResourcesBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett Levy's Twitter Page: Handle @brettlmlevyEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageRelated Episodes of ESDYouth Exploring Public Issues & Taking Action, with Jill Bass (Mikva Challenge)Students Addressing Public Issues through Action Civics, with Scott Warren (Generation Citizen)Support the show
Vince Meldrum, the President and CEO of the non-profit Earth Force, discusses the power and importance of taking local civic action, how Earth Force prepares educators to get kids excited about addressing local environmental issues, and the many ways that Earth Force is expanding its reach, including its plans to reach 150,000 students by 2026. Earth Force ResourcesEarth Force WebsiteVince Meldrum's CommentariesESD Podcast ResourcesBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett Levy's Twitter Page: Handle @brettlmlevyEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageRelated Episodes of ESDEarth Force & Environmental Stewardship, with Alexis Thorbecke (Program Manager at Earth Force)Learning to Care for Our Community Environments, with Ethan Lowenstein (Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition & Eastern Michigan University)Connecting Students with the Natural World, with Cornelia Harris (Highland Middle School, Highland, NY)Support the show
For many years, educators have touted the value of classroom discussions, but what frameworks and principles can help us to guide these discussions? In this episode, Brett Levy speaks with Rebecca Rolland, a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and author of the new book, The Art of Talking with Children: The Simple Keys to Nurturing Kindness, Creativity, and Confidence in Kids. We talk about the value of rich talk, three key elements of guiding rich talk with children, how rich talk can strengthen civic education, challenges involved in these practices, and much more. Please stay tuned to hear this very interesting conversation. Rebecca Rolland and Related ResourcesRebecca Rolland's Harvard faculty profileRebecca's Book: The Art of Talking with ChildrenRR's Book Recommendation: It Takes Two to TalkHarvard Project ZeroESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett's Twitter Page for Handle @brettlmlevyRelated Episodes of ESDJudy Pace Interview, Part 1: Learning to Teach Controversial IssuesProf. Diana Hess on Teaching Controversial IssuesProf. Wayne Journell on Modeling Political ToleranceSupport the show
How do we ensure that elections are free and fair? For the past couple of years, we've heard more and more false claims about stolen elections, but the truth is that our election systems are very well-managed. Yes, there are areas where systems can be improved, but among the biggest problems in our election system now are misinformation about the elections and the skepticism that this creates.In this episode, I speak with Meghan Cook, Program Director of the Center for Technology in Government at the University at Albany, and two election experts – Tom Connolly, the Director of Election Operations at the New York State Board of Elections, and Brendan Lovullo, the Deputy Director of Election Operations at the New York State Board of Elections. In our discussion, we talk about how elections are managed in New York State and elsewhere, and we address some common misconceptions head-on. We talk about how votes are counted, how election machines are secured, how election workers address problems that arise, and much more.Our Article on Teaching about Election IntegrityOur Guests & Related ResourcesMegan Cook's WebsiteCenter for Technology in Government at UAlbanyNew York State Board of Elections WebsiteESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett's Twitter Page for Handle @brettlmlevyRelated Episodes of ESDBuilding a Movement for Civic Education, with Michael Rebell (Teachers College, Columbia University)A Congressional Bill to Strengthen Civic Education, with Cat McDonald (DC Lobbyist for Civic Ed)Support the show
How can scholars of education work together to strengthen educational policy and practice? In this episode, I talk to Kevin Kumashiro about some of his recent work to build education scholar collectives, groups of scholars and researchers working together to share their knowledge and perspectives to improve education. He talks about several of these scholar collectives in various parts of the United States, and we discuss their origins, goals, successes, and challenges. We also talk about how they work and the different forms they can take. Kevin Kumashiro has served in many roles in the field of education, including professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago and Dean of the School of Education at the University of San Francisco. Links Related to Scholar CollectivesKevin Kumashiro's Site (with conference info)Kevin's Article on Scholarly CollectivesChicago's Scholar Collective: CREATECalifornia's Scholar Collective: CARE-EDEducation Deans for Equity and JusticeESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett's Twitter Page for Handle @brettlmlevyRelated Episodes of ESDBuilding a Movement for Civic Education, with Michael Rebell (Teachers College, Columbia University & Democracy Ready New York)The Civically Engaged Districts Project, with Prof. Beth Rubin (Rutgers) and Four District Administrators (New Brunswick Public Schools)Support the show
What is the Seal of Civic Readiness, and how can students earn it on their high school diplomas? Last year, New York became the fifth U.S. state to begin awarding this honor to graduating high school seniors for demonstrating certain levels of civic knowledge and participation. Over 100 New York schools piloted the program during the last school year, and in this episode, I speak to a district administrator who oversaw the rollout of the Seal of Civic Readiness in her large upstate New York district. Even though this episode focuses on one state's policy, it holds lessons for states around the country and perhaps countries around the world, so please stay tuned, even if you're far from New York. Lisa Kissinger has worked as a social studies teacher at the middle and high school levels and now serves as the Academic Administrator for Social Studies Education in the Shenendehowa Central School District, which is a about twenty miles north of Albany and has about 3000 students on one high school campus. In this episode, I talk to Lisa about how and why the state developed the Seal of Civic Readiness, requirements for earning the Seal, how exactly students at Shenendehowa High School earned the Seal on their diplomas, challenges and successes of the program's first year, how she expects her school's program to expand opportunities for students to earn the Seal, and her advice for educators elsewhere who are interested in this type of work. Seal of Civic Readiness & Related ResourcesEducator Toolkit for the Seal of Civic ReadinessNYS Information about the Seal of Civic ReadinessKey Contact about the Seal: christine.razez@nysed.orgNew York State Council for the Social StudiesESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett's Twitter Page for Handle @brettlmlevyRelated Episodes of ESDThe Civically Engaged Districts Project, with Prof. Beth Rubin (Rutgers) and Four District Administrators (New Brunswick Public Schools)Youth Exploring Public Issues & Taking Action, with Jill Bass (Mikva Challenge)Support the show
How can we foster young people's sense of connection to the natural environment? For over twenty years, teacher Cornelia (Lia) Harris has been helping adolescents develop this sense of connection. In this episode, Brett Levy talks to Lia about her work as a middle school science teacher, how she helps her students spend time outside and feel connected to the Earth, and what she learned from her recent dissertation study about what students got out of participating in a citizen science project along the Hudson River. Lia also explains why she thinks place-based education can be so transformative for students – even though it can be a bit unpredictable.Lia Harris recently earned her doctorate from the University at Albany, State University of New York. She currently teaches at Highland Middle School in Highland, New York. Related ResourcesPlace-Based Education Site (David Sobel)Hudson River Eel ProjectCitizen Science Opportunities ESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett's Twitter Page for Handle @brettlmlevyRelated EpisodesLearning to Care for Our Community Environments, with Ethan Lowenstein (Eastern Michigan University & the Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition) Earth Force & Environmental Citizenship, with Alexis Thorbecke (Program Manager at Earth Force) Integrating History and Current Events & Creating an Open Classroom Climate, with Amber Joseph (East Side Community School, NYC) Support the show
How should we help young people understand the abortion debate? For three decades, Dave Ross has been helping adolescents explore highly controversial issues, including abortion and reproductive rights. As a teacher of philosophy, history, and social issues courses at West High School in Madison, Wisconsin, he has guided students to examine not only the legal issues around abortion but also the ethical issues, the policy issues, and numerous related questions. In this episode, Brett talks to Dave about how he has taught about the abortion debate, including how he creates an open classroom climate for discussion, how he chooses resources that offer a variety of perspectives on the issue, and how he designs engaging learning experiences. Dave also recommends a variety of resources that listeners can check out if they want to learn more about this type of work.Related Teaching ResourcesDave Ross's Folder of Resources for Teaching about the Abortion Debate Article: Dave Ross & Others Recognized at Northwestern University for Extraordinary TeachingClarifying Public Controversy (by Fred Newmann & Donald Oliver)The Political Classroom (Diana Hess & Paula McAvoy)Supreme Court Landmark Cases CurriculaESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett's Twitter Page for Handle @brettlmlevyRelated Episodes Integrating History and Current Events & Creating an Open Classroom Climate, with Amber Joseph (East Side Community School, NYC) Teaching Social & Historical Issues through Film: Trends & Challenges, with Jeremy Stoddard (University of Wisconsin - Madison) Creating Inclusive Environments and Curricula for LGBTQ+ Youth, with Marc Lewis (R.J. Grey Junior High, Acton MA)Support the show
In this short episode, middle school teacher Marc Lewis describes how he first told his students that he was gay - way back in the year 2000. This moment of "coming out" was unplanned, but since then, he has continued to be open with his students about his sexual orientation. Marc Lewis holds a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has taught social studies at R.J. Grey Junior High School in Acton, Massachusetts, for over twenty years.To support this show, please subscribe, give it five stars in your podcast app, and share an episode with a friend! LGBTQ+ Teaching Resources ESD Episode on Creating Inclusive Classrooms for LGBTQ+ Youth (featuring Marc Lewis)Learning for Justice Resources on Gender & Sexual IdentityGay, Lesbian, & Straight Educator Network (GLSEN) SiteInclusive Curriculum Guide (GLSEN)Teaching & Acting in the Wake of Recent Mass ShootingsInformation on the June 11th DemonstrationsMarch for Our Lives WebsiteTeaching in the Wake of Violence Resources (by Facing History)NYT's List of Resources for Teaching about Uvalde School ShootingESD Podcast Resources:Education for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett's Twitter Page for Handle @brettlmlevy (Follow Brett!)Support the show
We all know that we could be doing a better job preparing young people for civic participation – and government officials and the public largely agree, but few organizations focus primarily on addressing this problem. Democracy Ready New York is one of the groups that's taking action on this issue – advocating for government policies to better support civic education and broadening public engagement in the issue. This episode features the leader of Democracy Ready New York, Michael Rebell. Since 2005, Michael has served as the Executive Director of the Center for Educational Equity at Teachers College, Columbia University. Over the past few years, he and other staff at the Center have built a coalition of individuals and organizations with an interest in civic education. Today this coalition, Democracy Ready New York, is working to improve various aspects of civic education, including media literacy, classrooms discussions, equity, and more. In his conversation with Brett, Michael talks about the goals of the organization, the accomplishments of its various committees, and the group's plans to diversity its efforts to improve civic education. Resources Related to this EpisodeMichael Rebell's WebsiteDemocracy Ready New York WebsiteCivXNow (Civic Education Advocacy)ESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)Brett's Twitter Page for Handle @brettlmlevyRelated ESD EpisodesA Congressional Bill to Strengthen Civic Education, with Cat McDonald (DC Lobbyist for Civic Ed)Responding to this Moment & Expanding Youth Civic Action, with Elizabeth Clay Roy (Generation Citizen)Guiding Productive Political Discussions, with Diana Hess (University of Wisconsin-Madison)Engagement & Equity in Civic Education (with Prof. Jane Lo)Support the show
What if a school made preparation for democracy its central goal? That's what Democracy Prep tries to do - not in just one school but in many. This charter school network includes 24 schools in five states, with schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. In this episode, Brett talks to Rashid Duroseau, the Civics Program Director at Democracy Prep. Rashid describes the civic participation experiences the schools require of students, how various courses integrate civic issues into the curriculum, how he found his way into education, and more. More about Democracy PrepThe Civics Program at Democracy PrepDemocracy Prep Public Schools HomepageUSA Today Story on Democracy Prep's Teaching of U.S. HistoryEmpirical Study of Democracy Prep's Effects on Students (by Mathematica) Rashid Duroseau's Brief BioESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please subscribe!)Related ESD EpisodesCivically Engaged Districts Project, Part 1 (with Administrators & Prof. Beth Rubin)Civically Engaged Districts Project, Part 2 (with Students & Teachers)Engagement & Equity in Civic Education (with Prof. Jane Lo)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
This mini-episode briefly describes resources that can be used to teach about the war in Ukraine, including the resulting refugee crisis. To explore these resources, please click on the links below. Resources for Teaching about the War in UkraineDemocracy Prep's Resources for Teaching about the War in UkraineFacing History & Ourselves - Lesson on the Ukrainian Refugee CrisisNY Times - Updates on the War in UkrainePBS - Lesson Plan on the War in UkraineEd Week - Sports as an Engagement Tool for Ukraine WarESD Podcast Resources:Education for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please subscribe!)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
How should young children learn about their social world? How should elementary educators prepare students for life in a democratic society? What is Kid Citizen, and what can children learn from it?In this episode, Brett talks to Professors Ilene and Michael Berson from the University of South Florida. They discuss their online civic education site, Kid Citizen, which includes activities and curricula to strengthen young children's civic learning. In addition, they share their ideas and research on how elementary school children learn about their social world. You'll also hear a bit about how the Bersons met, got married, and ended up working together. Thanks for listening, subscribing, and sharing! Links Related to KidCitizenKidCitizen Library of Congress Teachers TPS Teachers Network iCivics Exploring Primary Sources Educating for American Democracy Social Studies Innovation Network About this Episode's GuestsIlene R. Berson Michael J. Berson ESD Podcast Resources:Education for Sustainable Democracy HomepageBrett Levy's Open-Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)ESD Episode on iCivics, with CEO Emma HumphriesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
How can educators create inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ youth? To explore this question, Brett speaks to a veteran middle school social studies teacher in Massachusetts, Marc Lewis, who has been enacting and experimenting with strategies and curricula to help all of his students feel welcome in his classroom – and to help them understand the complexity and truth of our world and its history. In our conversation, Marc describes how he builds a trusting classroom community, how he physically designs his classroom, how he integrates LGBTQ+ history into his curriculum, how he shares his own identity as an openly gay man, and how he has responded to challenges related to these practices. Marc also describes a variety of resources (links below) that listeners can check out if they want to learn more about this type of work.Marc Lewis holds a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has taught social studies at R.J. Grey Junior High School in Acton, Massachusetts, for over twenty years.To support this show, please subscribe, give it five stars in your podcast app, and share an episode with a friend! LGBTQ+ Teaching Resources We the Future Posters & ImagesLearning for Justice Resources on Gender & Sexual IdentityGay, Lesbian, & Straight Educator Network (GLSEN) SiteLGBTQ+ History Timeline (GLSEN)Lesson Plan for LGBTQ+ History TimelineOther Lesson Plans on LGBTQ+ Issues (GLSEN)Inclusive Curriculum Guide (GLSEN)ESD Podcast Resources:Education for Sustainable Democracy SiteBrett Levy's Open-Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
How should educators teach about the first anniversary of the Capitol Insurrection? This mini-episode describes free online resources to help teachers who want their students to understand the important events of January 6th, 2021, and their significance. Below are links to these resources.Teaching ResourcesFacing History & Ourselves - Resources for Teaching the InsurrectionGeneration Citizen - Resources for Teaching the InsurrectionMore Relevant Resources from Facing History & OurselvesNational Council for the Social Studies - January 6th Teaching ResourcesKamala Harris's Speech on January 6, 2022 (9 minutes)Joe Biden's Speech on January 6, 2022 (25 minutes)House Select Committee on the January 6th AttackWashington Post - What the Committee Has DoneCNN - Committee Talks to Trump StaffersU.S. House Select Committee - Latest NewsPrior ESD Episodes on the Capitol InsurrectionTeaching about the Capitol Riot - Context, Impacts, & Moving Forward, with James Hartwick (University of Wisconsin - Whitewater)Teaching the Capitol Riot in a Politically Diverse Classroom, with Lauren Collet-Gildard (Arlington High School, NY)More Educators' PerspectivesNewsweek - Teachers Uncertain How to Approach IssueWUNC - North Carolina Teachers' ApproachesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
How can youth help to improve the culture and policies of their school districts?In Part 2 of ESD's series on the Civically Engaged Districts Project, students and teachers discuss how they conducted research and took action to effect real change in their central New Jersey districts. They addressed challenging issues, such as gun control, student mental health, and creating an inclusive school community. Listen to hear what they learned from the experience and how district leaders responded.Student Participants: Tabatha Alegria, Emely Garcia, Oluwafisayo (Fefe) Kotun, Eddylenn Hidalgo, James Nicolai, John NicolaiTeacher Participants: Chris Monaghan, Sean Villegas, Brandi Gustafson, Luma HasanPart 1 of this series features administrators who worked on the project and the professor who helps guide the work. Please check it out at the link below.Resources Related to the Civically Engaged Districts Project:Civically Engaged Districts Projects WebsiteYouth Participatory Action Research Hub (curricular resources)Youth Engaged in Leadership and Learning (YELL) Curriculum GuideRelated Articles by Beth Rubin:Towards a Civically Relevant Civics Education (in TRSE)Confronting the Urban Civic Opportunity Gap (in JTE)Navigating Y-PAR in the Classroom (Curriculum Inquiry)ESD Podcast Resources:Education for Sustainable Democracy SiteBrett Levy's Open Access Research ArticlesPrior ESD Episodes on Y-PAR:Civically Engaged Districts Project - Part 1, with Prof. Beth Rubin (Rutgers University) and District Administrators (New Brunswick Public Schools)Students Addressing Public Issues through Action Civics, with Scott Warren (Generation Citizen)Youth Exploring Issues & Taking Action, with Jill BassSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
Many civic education programs focus on generating civically engaging classroom experiences, and these are very important. But what structures and systems exist at the school district level to support youth civic engagement? How can districts foster a "civic ecosystem" that encourages youth voice and activism - and leverages these assets to enhance the district's culture?Professor Beth Rubin of Rutgers University has been working closely with administrators and teachers in New Brunswick Public Schools on the Civically Engaged Districts Project. This project, supported by the Spencer Foundation, aims to foster youth civic inquiry about authentic local challenges and to engage administrators, teachers, and students in addressing these challenges. This episode features Dr. Rubin and three district leaders from New Brunswick Public Schools who have worked on the Project, including Dr. Aubrey Johnson (Superintendent), Dr. Marnie McKoy (former Human Resources Director), and Dr. Lennox Small (Humanities Curriculum Supervisor).Part 2 of this series will feature students and teachers who have been involved in the project. Please check it out!Resources Related to the Civically Engaged Districts Project:Civically Engaged Districts Projects WebsiteYouth Participatory Action Research Hub (curricular resources)Youth Engaged in Leadership and Learning (YELL) Curriculum GuideRelated Articles by Beth Rubin:Towards a Civically Relevant Civics Education (in TRSE)Confronting the Urban Civic Opportunity Gap (in JTE)Navigating Y-PAR in the Classroom (Curriculum Inquiry)ESD Podcast Resources:Education for Sustainable Democracy SiteBrett Levy's Open Access Research ArticlesPrior ESD Episodes on Y-PAR:Students Addressing Public Issues through Action Civics, with Scott Warren (Generation Citizen)Youth Exploring Issues & Taking Action, with Jill Bass (Mikva Challenge) Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
Will the federal government support a comprehensive civic education bill? The Civics Secures Democracy Act is a Congressional proposal to support civic education with about one billion dollars annually over five years. Currently the bill has sponsors from both major parties, but it is not without detractors. In this episode, Cat McDonald, the lead lobbyist for the bill, tells us about the bill's content, how likely it is to pass, and the challenges that lie ahead for this proposed legislation. We also discuss the history of the federal government's support for civic education – and how this plan is different from what's come before. You can see a video of this episode at this link.Resources on the Civics Secures Democracy Act:CivXNow Coalition WebsiteCivics Secures Democracy Act Text (32 pages)Ask Questions or Get Involved in CSD (Contact Form)About Catriona McDonaldESD Podcast Resources:Education for Sustainable Democracy SiteBrett's Open Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
How can technology enhance students' engagement in classroom learning? When are technologies helpful, and when are they harmful? In this episode, I talk to Dr. Dan Krutka, associate professor of social studies education at the University of North Texas. Dan's research sits at the intersection of technology, education, and democracy. We discuss how teachers can decide which technologies would strengthen their teaching or whether technologies would even be helpful at all. We also discuss many specific online tools and how they can be useful for enhancing student engagement and learning. In our conversation, Dan touches on a variety of other issues, as well, such as how to teach effectively in online learning environments when students are home during COVID lockdowns. This month marks the first anniversary of Education for Sustainable Democracy. Thank you for your support over the past year!Links Related to this Episode:Dan Krutka's HomepagePICRAT Model for Tech Integration in Teacher Ed (CITE Journal)Glenn Wiebe's Blog - Technology in Social Studies Ed Teacher Resources:Padlet Site (digital creation tool)DocsTeach Site (primary sources & activities)Chronicling America (historical newspapers)Smithsonian Learning Labs (documents, recordings, images, & more)The Redistricting Game (simulation about gerrymandering)ESD Podcast Resources:Education for Sustainable Democracy SiteBrett's Open Access Research ArticlesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
This podcast turns one year old this October! Happy anniversary, and thanks for your support! New episodes are in the works, so please stay tuned. As you know, I try to release a new show towards the beginning of each month, and there are some good ones coming up, including shows on technology for the social studies classroom, civically engaged districts, and proposed federal legislation to support civic learning. As we celebrate this first anniversary milestone, I'm hoping to continue expanding the show's reach. Could you please help me spread the word about the show? (We have no publicity wing, so you're it! Consider this a form of civic engagement. :)Below are four ways you can help. If you could do one or two of them, I'd greatly appreciate it! 1. Rate the show in your podcast app. (Five stars would be great!) More good ratings will help push the show out to new potential listeners!2. "Like" the show's Facebook Page by clicking here. 3. Share your favorite episode (or the show as a whole) with a friend, colleague, or family member. You can do this by finding the share button in your podcast app (usually an arrow) or by sending a link directly to recipients. Here you can find links to individual episodes and a link to the show's website that you can cut-and-paste into an email or text message. 4. Make a small donation to the show on Patreon. This will help me pay for web hosting, mastering, and technology for the show. Also, with enough support, I can hire a sound editor. If someone helps me with editing, I can produce more shows for you all! (I plan to upload exclusive content for all Patreon supporters soon!)Thank you so much! You can email me anytime at esdpodcast@gmail.com. Have a great day!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
This month, we'll observe the 20th anniversary of the attacks of September 11th, 2001. These events had many consequences that we see today, including the long war in Afghanistan. When these attacks occurred, today's k-12 students had not even been born. How should we help students understand 9/11? What should they learn about the causes and the effects of the attacks? How have curricula portrayed 9/11 and the "War on Terror"?Jeremy Stoddard, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been researching curriculum and teaching about 9/11 since 2002. In our conversation, he describes what he and his colleagues have learned by analyzing textbooks and teacher surveys on these issues. Jeremy also tells us about a new set of free online resources that he co-designed for teaching about 9/11 and related issues, such as the PATRIOT Act and combating Islamophobia.Links Related to this EpisodeResources for Teaching about 9/11 & Related IssuesJeremy Stoddard's HomepagePBS Resources for Teaching about 9/11PBS Frontline: America after 9/11 (Aired 9/7/21)ESD Podcast ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)Education for Sustainable Democracy SiteBrett's Open Access Research ArticlesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
How should film be used to teach about difficult social and historical issues? We all know that visual media can bring issues to life, but media also portray a limited perspective. How can educators leverage the power of film but also help students understand the limitations of these portrayals - and the limitations of the genre itself? Jeremy Stoddard is a professor in the department of curriculum and instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and he has conducted research on media education, civic learning, and the history curriculum. In our conversation, we discuss his research on how teachers use film in their classrooms, optimal methods for teaching students with and about film, innovations in educational media, and much more. Media Literacy Education Resources:British Film Institute's Teacher ResourcesAbout Virtual Holograms of Holocaust SurvivorsJeremy's Book: Teaching Difficult History through FilmAbout Jeremy Stoddard's Work:Jeremy Stoddard's Faculty PageJeremy's Media Ed Project: The Impact of Virtual InternshipsESD Podcast Resources:Please Support ESD by Donating on Patreon - Thanks! Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)Education for Sustainable Democracy SiteBrett's Open Access Research ArticlesESD Episode on the News Literacy Project, with John Silva and Miriam RomaisSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
This episode is Part 2 of Brett's conversation with John Silva and Miriam Romais of the News Literacy Project. In this segment of their discussion, they talk about how misinformation spreads and how certain media literacy practices can help combat it. They also discuss the News Literacy Project's free programs for teachers, plans for the future, and more.Related Links:Part 1 of Brett's Interview with John Silva and Miriam RomaisNews Literacy Project SiteAbout John SilvaAbout Miriam RomaisNorthwest Tree Octopus Site (Sample News Hoax)Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)Education for Sustainable Democracy SiteBrett's Open Access Research ArticlesPlease Support ESD by Donating on Patreon - Thanks! Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
How can we help young people navigate our complex media landscape? The News Literacy Project (NLP) has been helping youth, educators, and the public become critical consumers of news and information for over a decade. In this episode, Brett talks to John Silva, NLP's director of education and training and Miriam Romais, NLP's senior manager of educator engagement. They discuss the importance of news media literacy and specific strategies for helping young people become wise consumers of information. Related Resources: News Literacy Project SiteAbout John SilvaAbout Miriam RomaisEducation for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)Education for Sustainable Democracy SiteBrett Levy's Open Access Research Articles Please Support ESD by Donating on Patreon - Thanks! Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
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