What’s New?

Check out this new series of videos on Civic Discussion and Deliberation produced in Chicago Public Schools. Learn why and how schools and teachers should help students have civic and political discussion with people who have different opinions from their own. And watch two strategies you can use in the classroom from Structured Academic Controversy to the Co-Pilot Discussion Strategy. You can also learn more by reading this recent blog: Move Over Debate; It’s Time to Deliberate.

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What is Civic Learning?

Civic learning is a process through which young people develop the knowledge, skills, and commitments to interact effectively with others, improve their communities and the broader society, and participate in democracy. And the digital age has made the need for such education all the more urgent. New skills and dispositions are needed to help youth fully leverage new opportunities for effective participation while navigating new challenges. Watch this video to learn more about what civic engagement is and to find out how teachers in Oakland Unified School District are integrating civic learning throughout the district.

To receive updates on new resources and information about civic learning, follow @Ed4Democracy on Twitter and sign up for the Educating for Democracy newsletter.

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Essential Questions

Ready to learn more about how to educate for democracy? These essential questions touch on core civic practices. By exploring the questions and diving into the resources below, you will find ways to integrate civic learning across content areas and grade levels.

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Digital Civics Toolkit for Educators

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Meet the Civic Engagement Teacher Laureate

Heather Van Benthuysen — the latest Teacher Laureate at the Teaching Channel — will be sharing resources and tools as well as provocative reflection questions focused on how to build democratic classrooms and integrate civic engagement across grade levels and content areas. To learn more about Heather’s background, how she got started in civics, why she thinks integrating civic learning in the classroom is critical, and the resources she will be sharing on the Teaching Channel, read this introductory blog post and watch our recent conversation with her.

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Learn More

To learn more and find additional resources, check out our curated list of relevant, high-quality, civic learning materials from national civic education organizations. Click here to see a list of organizations.

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About This Deep Dive

This Deep Dive was developed through a collaboration between the Teaching Channel and the Civic Engagement Research Group (CERG) at the University of California, Riverside. We will be updating this collection on an ongoing basis. To receive updates on new resources and information about civic learning, follow @Ed4Democracy on Twitter and sign up for the Educating for Democracy newsletter.

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Special Thanks

To the Hearst Foundations, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation for funding our work and helping promote the importance of teaching for democracy.

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