Education for Sustainable Democracy: Recent Episodes
Brett Levy
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!
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 Resources
New York State's Seal of Civic Readiness Site
Brett Levy's Teaching Elections Site
ESD Podcast Resources
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles
Education 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)
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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 Resources
How to Raise a Citizen
Lindsey Cormack faculty homepage
National Association for Media Literacy Education
ESD Podcast Resources
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles
Education 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)
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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 Project
Project Overview on Carnegie Site
ESD Podcast Resources
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles
Education 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 & Images
Learning for Justice Resources on Gender & Sexual Identity
Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Educator Network (GLSEN) Site
LGBTQ+ History Timeline (GLSEN)
Lesson Plan for LGBTQ+ History Timeline
Other Lesson Plans on LGBTQ+ Issues (GLSEN)
Inclusive Curriculum Guide (GLSEN)
ESD Podcast Resources:
Education for Sustainable Democracy Site
Brett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles
Education 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 Integrity
Our Guests & Related Resources
Megan Cook's Website
Center for Technology in Government at UAlbany
New York State Board of Elections Website
ESD Podcast Resources
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett 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
Related Episodes of ESD
Building 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 Prep
The Civics Program at Democracy Prep
Democracy Prep Public Schools Homepage
USA Today Story on Democracy Prep's Teaching of U.S. History
Empirical Study of Democracy Prep's Effects on Students (by Mathematica)
Rashid Duroseau's Brief Bio
ESD Podcast Resources
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles
Education 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)
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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 Journell
Wayne Journell's Website
Theory & Research in Social Education
Teaching Elections Website
ESD Podcast Resources
Brett 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: @brettlmlevy
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Support 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 Resources
The Civics Center Homepage
About Laura Brill
Educator Workshops for Voter Registration Drives
Student Resources for Voter Registration Drives
Brett's Teaching Elections Site
ESD Podcast Resources
Brett 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 @brettlmlevy
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Related Episodes of ESD
Learning about Election Integrity
Democracy Prep: A Charter School Network
Seal of Civic Readiness for High School Students
A High School Course on Public Policy
Support 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 Resources
About Sarah McGrew
Sarah McGrew's Articles (Google Scholar)
Media Literacy Standards Map
Brett's Media Literacy Education Paper
ESD Podcast Resources
Brett 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 @brettlmlevy
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Related 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)
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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 Hess
The Political Classroom, by Diana Hess and Paula McAvoy
Videos of Teaching Discussion Skills (by CERG)
Structured Academic Controversy Discussion Model
Brett Levy's Article Featuring a Structured Academic Controversy
Other ESD Resources:
Brett Levy's Other Open-Access Research Articles
ESD Episode on Teaching the Capitol Riot
ESD Episode on Teaching Elections & Political Tolerance
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 Resources
About Walter Parker
Walter's New Book: Education for Liberal Democracy
Walter's Knowledge-in-Action Project
Gutman's Book: Democratic Education
Brett's Media Literacy Education Paper
ESD Podcast Resources
Brett 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 @brettlmlevy
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Feedspot's 100 Best Classroom Podcasts (including ESD!)
Related Episodes of ESD
Engagement & 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 Resources
Article about Kewsi Burgess
Video featuring Kewsi Burgess
E. Moje on Adolescent Literacy
ESD Podcast Resources
Brett 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 @brettlmlevy
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Related Episodes of ESD
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 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 Site
Article about Ethan Lowenstein
SEMIS in the News
SEMIS Coalition Facebook Page
More on Related Topics:
Place-Based Education Videos, by Edutopia
Brett Levy's Paper on "Civic Science Education"
Brett Levy's Paper on Environmental Political Participation
Brett Levy's Other Open-Access Research Articles
Place-Based Teacher Preparation Program at Eastern Michigan University
ESD Resources:
ESD Episode on Mikva Challenge (mentioned by Ethan)
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page
ESD 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 Articles
Education for Sustainable Democracy Site
ESD 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 Hub
Online Civic Ed Professional Development
CIRCLE (Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement)
Research-Practice Partnership Network
ESD Podcast Resources
Brett 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 @brettlmlevy
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Related Episodes of ESD
Building 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 Resources
University in the High School Program at Syracuse
University in the High School Program at UAlbany
ESD Podcast Resources
Brett 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 @brettlmlevy
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Related Episodes of ESD
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
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 Resources
Brett's Article on Civic Science Education
Brett's Article on Inquiry-Based Learning
New York State Council for the Social Studies Site
ESD Podcast Resources
Brett 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 @brettlmlevy
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Related Episodes of ESD
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 we help young people build the skills they need to become advocates for environmental sustainability? In this episode, Professor Andrew 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 Resources
A.J. Schneller's Site
Syllabus for the Environmental Advocacy Bootcamp Course
Environmental Justice Atlas
ESD Podcast Resources
Brett 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 @brettlmlevy
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Related Episodes of ESD
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 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 Work
Sanchez Scholars Program
Sanchez Scholars on Instagram
Sanchez Scholars Email Address: sanchezscholars@gmail.com
Educators and Immigration Podcast (Gerardo's Podcast)
Educators and Immigration on Instagram
Gerardo Mancilla on Instagram
Anjuli Brekke's Website
Luz's Handle on Instagram: @rodri.l.l
ESD Podcast Resources
Brett 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 @brettlmlevy
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Related Episodes of ESD
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
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 Resources
Earth Force Website
Vince Meldrum's Commentaries
ESD Podcast Resources
Brett 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 @brettlmlevy
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Related Episodes of ESD
Earth 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 profile
Rebecca's Book: The Art of Talking with Children
RR's Book Recommendation: It Takes Two to Talk
Harvard Project Zero
ESD Podcast Resources
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett 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
Related Episodes of ESD
Judy Pace Interview, Part 1: Learning to Teach Controversial Issues
Prof. Diana Hess on Teaching Controversial Issues
Prof. Wayne Journell on Modeling Political Tolerance
Support 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 Integrity
Our Guests & Related Resources
Megan Cook's Website
Center for Technology in Government at UAlbany
New York State Board of Elections Website
ESD Podcast Resources
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett 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
Related Episodes of ESD
Building 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 Collectives
Kevin Kumashiro's Site (with conference info)
Kevin's Article on Scholarly Collectives
Chicago's Scholar Collective: CREATE
California's Scholar Collective: CARE-ED
Education Deans for Equity and Justice
ESD Podcast Resources
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett 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
Related Episodes of ESD
Building 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 New York's new Seal of Civic Readiness, and how can students earn it on their high school diplomas? Last year, the New York State Board of Regents, which supervises all educational activities in the State of New York, approved a proposal for the state's Education Department to award a Seal of Civic Readiness to any graduating high school senior who demonstrates certain levels of civic knowledge and civic participation. Over 100 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 Resources
Educator Toolkit for the Seal of Civic Readiness
NYS Information about the Seal of Civic Readiness
Key Contact about the Seal: christine.razez@nysed.org
New York State Council for the Social Studies
ESD Podcast Resources
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett 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
Related Episodes of ESD
The 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 Resources
Place-Based Education Site (David Sobel)
Hudson River Eel Project
Citizen Science Opportunities
ESD Podcast Resources
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett 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
Related Episodes
Learning 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 Resources
Dave Ross's Folder of Resources for Teaching about the Abortion Debate
Article: Dave Ross & Others Recognized at Northwestern University for Extraordinary Teaching
Clarifying Public Controversy (by Fred Newmann & Donald Oliver)
The Political Classroom (Diana Hess & Paula McAvoy)
Supreme Court Landmark Cases Curricula
ESD Podcast Resources
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett 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
Related 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 Identity
Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Educator Network (GLSEN) Site
Inclusive Curriculum Guide (GLSEN)
Teaching & Acting in the Wake of Recent Mass Shootings
Information on the June 11th Demonstrations
March for Our Lives Website
Teaching in the Wake of Violence Resources (by Facing History)
NYT's List of Resources for Teaching about Uvalde School Shooting
ESD Podcast Resources:
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett 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 Episode
Michael Rebell's Website
Democracy Ready New York Website
CivXNow (Civic Education Advocacy)
ESD Podcast Resources
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett 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
Related 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 Prep
The Civics Program at Democracy Prep
Democracy Prep Public Schools Homepage
USA Today Story on Democracy Prep's Teaching of U.S. History
Empirical Study of Democracy Prep's Effects on Students (by Mathematica)
Rashid Duroseau's Brief Bio
ESD Podcast Resources
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles
Education 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 Ukraine
Democracy Prep's Resources for Teaching about the War in Ukraine
Facing History & Ourselves - Lesson on the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis
NY Times - Updates on the War in Ukraine
PBS - Lesson Plan on the War in Ukraine
Ed Week - Sports as an Engagement Tool for Ukraine War
ESD Podcast Resources:
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles
Education 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 KidCitizen
KidCitizen
Library of Congress Teachers
TPS Teachers Network
iCivics Exploring Primary Sources
Educating for American Democracy
Social Studies Innovation Network
About this Episode's Guests
Ilene R. Berson
Michael J. Berson
ESD Podcast Resources:
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Brett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles
Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)
ESD Episode on iCivics, with CEO Emma Humphries
Support 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 & Images
Learning for Justice Resources on Gender & Sexual Identity
Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Educator Network (GLSEN) Site
LGBTQ+ History Timeline (GLSEN)
Lesson Plan for LGBTQ+ History Timeline
Other Lesson Plans on LGBTQ+ Issues (GLSEN)
Inclusive Curriculum Guide (GLSEN)
ESD Podcast Resources:
Education for Sustainable Democracy Site
Brett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles
Education 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 Insurrection
Generation Citizen - Resources for Teaching the Insurrection
More Relevant Resources from Facing History & Ourselves
National Council for the Social Studies - January 6th Teaching Resources
Kamala 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 Attack
Washington Post - What the Committee Has Done
CNN - Committee Talks to Trump Staffers
U.S. House Select Committee - Latest News
Prior ESD Episodes on the Capitol Insurrection
Teaching 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' Perspectives
Newsweek - Teachers Uncertain How to Approach Issue
WUNC - North Carolina Teachers' Approaches
Support 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 Nicolai
Teacher Participants:
Chris Monaghan, Sean Villegas, Brandi Gustafson, Luma Hasan
Part 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 Website
Youth Participatory Action Research Hub (curricular resources)
Youth Engaged in Leadership and Learning (YELL) Curriculum Guide
Related 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 Site
Brett Levy's Open Access Research Articles
Prior 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 Bass
Support 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 Website
Youth Participatory Action Research Hub (curricular resources)
Youth Engaged in Leadership and Learning (YELL) Curriculum Guide
Related 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 Site
Brett Levy's Open Access Research Articles
Prior 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 Website
Civics Secures Democracy Act Text (32 pages)
Ask Questions or Get Involved in CSD (Contact Form)
About Catriona McDonald
ESD Podcast Resources:
Education for Sustainable Democracy Site
Brett's Open Access Research Articles
Education 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 Homepage
PICRAT 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 Site
Brett's Open Access Research Articles
Education 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!
-
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!
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"Like" the show's Facebook Page by clicking here.
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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.
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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 Issues
Jeremy Stoddard's Homepage
PBS Resources for Teaching about 9/11
PBS Frontline: America after 9/11 (Aired 9/7/21)
ESD Podcast Resources
Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)
Education for Sustainable Democracy Site
Brett's Open Access Research Articles
Support 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 Resources
About Virtual Holograms of Holocaust Survivors
Jeremy's Book: Teaching Difficult History through Film
About Jeremy Stoddard's Work:
Jeremy Stoddard's Faculty Page
Jeremy's Media Ed Project: The Impact of Virtual Internships
ESD Podcast Resources:
Please Support ESD by Donating on Patreon - Thanks!
Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)
Education for Sustainable Democracy Site
Brett's Open Access Research Articles
ESD Episode on the News Literacy Project, with John Silva and Miriam Romais
Support 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 Site
About John Silva
About Miriam Romais
Northwest Tree Octopus Site (Sample News Hoax)
Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)
Education for Sustainable Democracy Site
Brett's Open Access Research Articles
Please 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 Site
About John Silva
About Miriam Romais
Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)
Education for Sustainable Democracy Site
Brett Levy's Open Access Research Articles
Please Support ESD by Donating on Patreon - Thanks!
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
When teaching controversial issues, should teachers play it safe or take some risks? How much risk is too much? How do political and historical contexts affect how educators explore controversial issues in their classrooms? Should students be expected to share their perspectives on controversial issues?
In Part 2 of Brett's interview with Judy Pace, Judy explains what her research taught her about how contextual factors affect educators' instruction about controversial issues. She also discusses the challenges involved in building classroom community and how to make teaching controversial issues more widespread.
Judy's research and this podcast episode were supported by the Spencer Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports educational research.
Links to Judy Pace's WorkJudy Pace's Website at USFJudy's Book - Hard Questions: Learning to Teach Controversial Issues Links to Other Related ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Website
Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page
Brett Levy et al.'s Article & Framework for Guiding Classroom Discussions
Related ESD Episodes
Judy Pace Interview, Part 1: Learning to Teach Controversial Issues
Prof. Diana Hess on Teaching Controversial Issues
Prof. Wayne Journell on Modeling Political Tolerance
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
How do teacher educators prepare their students to teach controversial issues in social studies, citizenship, and history? How does this process differ across countries with polarized political climates? What is "contained risk-taking," and why do teacher educators teach this approach?
Judy Pace, professor of teacher education at the University of San Francisco, tells Brett what she learned by studying the pedagogy of four teacher educators in three countries - the US, England, and Northern Ireland. Her findings (detailed in her new book, Hard Questions: Learning to Teach Controversial Issues) provide nuanced insights about teacher education, guiding instruction about controversial issues, and how national and historical contexts affect teaching.
This is Part 1 of an extended interview with Judy Pace. Part 2 can be found in the podcast feed and at this link.
Links to Judy Pace's WorkJudy Pace's Website at USFJudy Pace's Book - Hard Questions: Learning to Teach Controversial Issues Links to Other Related ResourcesEducation for Sustainable Democracy Website
Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page
Brett Levy et al.'s Framework for Guiding Classroom Discussions
ESD Episode featuring Prof. Diana Hess on Teaching Controversial Issues
ESD Episode featuring Prof. Wayne Journell on Modeling Political Tolerance
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
In today’s political climate, how can teachers create safe spaces for discussing controversial public issues? How should they guide students to explore potentially emotion-laden current events, such as police shootings of unarmed African-Americans? And how can history teachers integrate current events into their curricula?
Amber Joseph has been a public school social studies teacher in New York City for about a decade, and she currently teaches 8th grade history and civics at East Side Community School in Manhattan. She love her job and thinks a big part of it is helping her students navigate challenging issues, consider differing perspectives, and realize their potential as civic participants.
In our conversation, she shares her views and experiences, including integrating history and civics instruction, teaching about the Black Lives Matter Movement, keeping it real with students, and what keeps her coming back to teach each year.
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 Open Access Research Articles
Education for Sustainable Democracy Site
ESD Facebook Page (Please like!)
ESD Patreon Page (Small donations sustain this podcast. Thanks!)
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)
--
Please Support ESD by Donating on Patreon - Thanks!
Support the show
What have recent events taught us about the type of civic education we need? Elizabeth Clay Roy, the new CEO of Generation Citizen, shares her vision for equitable, engaging civic education that is transformational for both youth and their communities - and that address current societal needs. She also highlights specific opportunities that could support this vision, including action civics programs, efforts to lower the voting age, and proposed federal legislation on civic education (e.g., the Civics Secures Democracy Act).
Resources Related to this Episode:
About Elizabeth Clay Roy
Generation Citizen Website
Proposed Federal Civic Education Legislation (press release & links for the Civics Secures Democracy Act)
Equity in Civic Education White Paper
"Let America Be America Again," by Langston Hughes
Other Relevant Resources:Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page
Education for Sustainable Democracy Website
Brett's Paper on Youth-Adult Partnerships
Brett's Paper on Open-Minded Political Engagement
Related Episodes:Youth Exploring Issues & Taking Action, with Jill Bass (Mikva Challenge)Learning to Care for our Community Environments, with Ethan Lowenstein (Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition & Eastern Michigan University)
Engagement & Equity in Civic Education, with Jane Lo (Michigan State University)
Learning Politics by Doing Politics, with Scott Warren (Generation Citizen)
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
How do we create environmental citizens? What can schools do to prepare the next generation to advocate for clean air and water, and how can educators develop instruction that inspires pro-environmental action? For two decades, Earth Force has been working with youth and teachers to create educational experiences that foster environmentally oriented civic participation, science learning. and community change. Alexis Thorbecke, a program manager at Earth Force, tells us about the organization's origins, programs, success stories, and challenges.
Related Resource LinksEarth Force:Earth Force Website
Earth Force on TV News in Denver
Earth Force Youtube Channel
Other Resources:Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page
Education for Sustainable Democracy Website
Brett's Paper on Youth-Adult Partnerships
Brett's Paper on Environmental Political Engagement
Related Episodes:Learning to Care for our Community Environments, with Ethan Lowenstein (Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition & Eastern Michigan University)
Learning Politics by Doing Politics, with Scott Warren (Generation Citizen)
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
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 episode, 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 this Episode:
SEMIS:
Southeast Michigan Stewardship (SEMIS) Coalition Site
Video Overview about SEMISArticle about Ethan Lowenstein
SEMIS in the News
Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative
Connecting:
SEMIS Coalition Facebook Page
Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page
More on Related Topics:
ESD Episode on Mikva Challenge (mentioned by Ethan)
Place-Based Education Videos, by Edutopia
Brett Levy's Paper on Environmental Political Participation
Brett Levy's Other Open-Access Research Articles
Place-Based Teacher Preparation Program at Eastern Michigan University
And Of Course:
Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
This episode features Lauren Collet-Gildard, a veteran history teacher in a politically diverse school in upstate New York. The day after the Capitol riot, she knew she had to teach her classes about these events and their significance. Lauren describes how she helped students understand the insurrection and the democratic traditions that it violated. In addition, she tells Brett about her general approach to teaching about current events, including an emphasis on facts, source verification, and maintaining a positive, civil, welcoming environment.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
iCivics Infograph on Peaceful Power Transitions
Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page
Education for Sustainable Democracy Site
Other Related Resources:
Six Civic Education Leaders on Teaching the Capitol Riot
ESD Episode on Teaching the Capitol Riot, with Prof. James Hartwick
ESD Episode on Guiding Discussions of Controversial Issues, with Dean Diana Hess
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
How should educators teach about the riot at the U.S. Capitol? Should they remain unbiased? What facts and issues should they emphasize? In this episode, Brett talks to James Hartwick, a professor of social studies education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. After discussing guiding principles for teaching about the Capitol riot, Dr. Hartwick describes several concrete strategies for engaging students in thoughtful, civil, information-rich discussions of these important issues.
Resources:
Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (listener discussion & sharing)
PBS News Hour Guide for Teaching about the Insurrection (with short video)
Mikva Challenge Lesson on Capitol Riot (student reflection & discussion)
Schwarzenegger's Seven-Minute Video Condemning Riot
Generation Citizen's Resources on Teaching about the Capitol Insurrection
Teaching Resources on the Foundations for Democratic Government
Photographic Images from the Capitol Riot
How Impeachment and the 25th Amendment Work
Article by James and Brett Featuring Various Discussion Strategies
Article by James and Brett on Structured Academic Controversy
Menu of Discussion Strategies, by Facing History & Ourselves
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)
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, renowned social studies education scholar Diana Hess explores these questions, drawing on her two decades of research in classrooms. Hess is a professor and now 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.
Resources Related to this Episode:
Article on Diana Hess
The Political Classroom, by Diana Hess and Paula McAvoy
Videos of Teaching Discussion Skills (by CERG)
Structured Academic Controversy Discussion Model
Brett Levy's Article Featuring a Structured Academic Controversy
Brett Levy's Other Open-Access Research Articles
ESD Episode on Teaching the Capitol Riot
ESD Episode on Teaching Elections & Political Tolerance
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Why did the framers of the U.S. Constitution not allow for the direct election of the president? What is the rationale for the Electoral College system, and how has it evolved? In this episode, four prominent historians and political scientists explain why the Constitution's authors designed a unique system for electing this country's chief executive. They also discuss the pros and cons of possible alternatives to the Electoral College.
Profiles of Guests:
Jack Rakove, Stanford University
Thomas Patterson, Harvard University
Keith Whittington, Princeton University
Henry Brady, University of California, Berkeley
More on the Electoral College:
Alternatives to the Electoral College
Presidents Who Lost the Popular Vote
The Proportional Plan
National Popular Vote Compact
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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 Journell
Wayne Journell's Website
Theory & Research in Social Education
Teaching Elections Website
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How can young people learn to engage actively and competently in public issues, including elections? What steps can educators take to support this type of learning? In this episode, Brett talks to Jill Bass, the Chief Education Officer of Mikva Challenge, a non-profit organization that develops and enacts engaging experiential civics curricula with thousands of youth each year. Jill describes the process of fostering young people's sense of empowerment and how Mikva Challenge helps to get youth involved in elections, even if they can't yet vote.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Mikva Challenge Website
Mikva Challenge Election Headquarters
Education for Sustainable Democracy Site
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This mini-episode provides an overview of a new site that Brett Levy designed to help educators teach about the election: www.teachingelections.org
The site includes downloadable lesson plans, research articles, and links to various other resources, with new content added every few days until Election Day.
The lesson plans featured on the site were designed to be interactive, engaging, inquiry-oriented, and content-rich. For example, one lesson is framed with the simple but important question – Which Candidate Should We Elect and Why? – and has students explore their own political identities, the candidates’ positions on issues, and then which candidate better matches their own issue preferences. The site also contains a set of inquiry-based lessons related to the financing of political campaigns and a brand new lesson on how to have a fair election during a period of social distancing.
In addition to these lessons, the site has a page full of links to other great materials for learning about elections, including online election games from iCivics, lessons on voting rights from Generation Citizen, guidance on how to maintain a positive classroom environment during discussions of controversial issues, and an interactive electoral college map from the New York Times.
And for those who love research, the site also has a page containing free, downloadable papers on what researchers have learned about teaching elections.
This is all available for free at www.teachingelections.org
Young people are hearing all sorts of things about the election, and this site provides materials to help them explore the facts in an engaging way. If you’re an educator, please check it out, and if you like what you see, remember to share it with a colleague. The election's right around the corner, and this is a great time to generate young people's interest in public issues. Thanks!
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How can schools support the civic learning of students from diverse backgrounds? In this episode, Brett Levy interviews Jane Lo, an assistant professor of teacher education at Michigan State University, about how social studies curricula can adapt to our evolving society. Dr. Lo also discusses her empirical research, including the Knowledge in Action project.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Knowledge in Action Project
Jane Lo's Michigan State Homepage
Education for Sustainable Democracy Site
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Generation Citizen helps students become actively engaged in democracy through a process known as action civics, which enables students to explore public issues, power structures, methods of collaboration and advocacy. Scott Warren, the CEO of Generation Citizen, tells Brett why he founded the organization, what students have accomplished, how action civics motivates students, and the complexity of civic education..
Resources Mentioned on this Episode:
Generation Citizen
Beyond the Ballot
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iCivics is one of the leading civic education organizations in the US, and Emma Humphries is its Chief Education Officer. She tells Brett about the organization's unique online games, election education resources, and professional development opportunities. They also discuss Emma's vision for the organization, her efforts to expand civic education around the country, and how civic education should evolve.
Resources Mentioned on the Show:
iCivics
iCivics Election Headquarters
CivXNow
iCivics On-Demand PD
Education for Sustainable Democracy Site
Research Mentioned on the Show:
Model United Nations
Legislative Semester
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Hi, everyone! Welcome to Education for Sustainable Democracy – a new show about how we can prepare the next generation for informed civic engagement, environmental stewardship, and the development of a more just and peaceful world.
My name’s Brett Levy, and I’m a researcher of civic and environmental education and an associate professor at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Like a lot of you, I’ve become pretty concerned about the health of our democracy and our planet. But as we’ve seen recently and throughout history, if we work together, we can make things better – and young people can play a central role in that process.
For the past 12 years, I’ve been exploring how educational programs can help young people become well-informed, active civic participants. I’m starting this show to spread the word about some of the great work that’s been going on this this area, including the latest research, and I hope you’ll join me to learn about these exciting developments.
Episodes will 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 click the subscribe button, and tune in. Thanks for listening!
Resources Related to this Episode:
Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page
Education for Sustainable Democracy Website
Popular Episodes:
Guiding Productive Political Discussions, with Diana Hess (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Teaching about the Capitol Riot - Context, Potential Impacts, & Moving Forward, with James Hartwick (University of Wisconsin - Whitewater)
Youth Exploring Issues & Taking Action, with Jill Bass (Mikva Challenge)
Engagement & Equity in Civic Education, with Professor Jane Lo (Michigan State University)
Learning to Care for Our Community Environments, with Ethan Lowenstein (Eastern Michigan University & Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition)
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/esdpodcast)