What's new in the DSN?

Democracy Schools Network

Monthly Update

October 2023

ON YOUR RADAR

DSN announcements, upcoming events, Professional Development opportunities, and information about activities in our Democracy Schools.

~Constitutional Democracy Project

2023 Annual Conference for Teachers in Civics, Law & Government Friday, October 27 from 8:30am-2:30pm. Register here.

(at Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60661.)

~DSN Mini-Grants

The Democracy Schools Network offers a yearly grant program so active Democracy Schools have an opportunity to apply for funds. These funds will support work that enriches the civic learning experiences of students and improves the school’s organizational culture to provide a more democratic landscape. (This is a webinar on last year's projects.)

This popular and successful program has enabled many of our schools to innovate in ways that would not have been possible otherwise. It has also been a catalyst for collaboration among our Democracy Schools. Please consider applying for this grant (up to $1,000 per school). You can access more details and the application here.

~Civics 101 Refresher Course

Starting on October 17 and airing every other Tuesday evening, New Hampshire’s Public Radio (NHPR) Civics 101 hosts Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice will join NHPR’s All Things Considered host Julia Furukawa for Refresher Course, a segment about how our democratic institutions actually work … and maybe along the way, you’ll learn something they didn’t cover in school. (Their book A User’s Guide to Democracy was one of the books we gave our members at the Convening.) Listeners can expect to learn about checks and balances, the Second Amendment, freedom of speech in schools, and more. Civics 101, which has been downloaded across the globe more than 21 million times, is NHPR’s podcast refresher course on the basics of how American democracy works at its best and how each of us can participate in making it stronger. More information here .

~SAVE THE DATE for Book Talk with Shawn McCusker

Join us on Tuesday, December 5 from 4-5 pm to talk about the book, Becoming Active Citizens , with the author, Shawn McCusker. (We. have made this book available to our members during the last two Annual Convenings.) Further details and registration information will be available in the November Monthly Update.

Resources from the Convening

If you'd like to read more about Dr. Kahne's research, click here.

Many of our presenters have made their presentations available to our members. Check out this folder for slide decks and other resources.

Earn Your Microcredentials: Become a Guardian of Democracy Educator

The Illinois Civics Hub has partnered with the Lou Frey Institute at the University of Central Florida to provide educators with the opportunity to earn their microcredentials in the proven practices of civic education embedded in the middle and high school civics course requirements in Illinois. Courses include:

Current and Controversial Issue Discussions—Learn from academic experts Dr. Diana Hess & Dr. Paula McAvoy as you explore the purpose, role, and function of discussion strategies as pedagogical tools to equip young people to be engaged citizens. This course will enhance the practice of educators with strategies and resources to create a classroom climate in which there are equitable opportunities for ALL students to engage in dialogue about essential questions across the curriculum.

Simulations of Democratic Processes—Learn from academic experts Dr. Walter Parker & Dr. Jane Lo as you explore how democratic processes and procedures occur as part of the regular functioning of government, in each of the three branches of government, and at each level of government. This course will guide you through the purpose, planning, and implementation of three simulations: town hall meetings, legislative hearings, and moot courts.

Informed Action through Service Learning—Learn from academic experts Dr. Joseph Kahne and Jessica Marshall as you explore the purpose, role, and function of informed action through service learning as a pedagogical tool to equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be active members of their community. In this course, you will interact with strategies and tools you can use in your classroom to support student-centered informed action through service learning.

NEW- Constitutional Democracy as Content and Practice—Learn from academic experts Dr. Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, Dr. Shawn P. Healy, and Dr. Bonnie Laughlin Schultz as you explore how the Educating for American Democracy Roadmap can help teach constitutional democracy as both content and practice across disciplines K-12.

Registration information is available on the Guardians of Democracy homepage. Those who successfully complete the 5-week online course will earn a Bronze Certified Guardian of Democracy Educator badge via Badgr and the University of Central Florida Center for Distributive Learning.

Participants can earn 15 PD hours through the DuPage Regional Office of Education for an additional fee.

There are three strands of courses for each proven practice of civics education. Graduate credit is available through the University of St. Francis for completing all three courses. For more information, please visit the Guardians of Democracy homepage.

~ATTENTION SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS

If you would like to be kept current on current Social Studies standards, course mandates, and resources to support both, we invite you to sign up for the Illinois Civics Hub newsletter here.

Check out our website for PD opportunities, resources and inspiration.

illinoiscivics.org