Core Principles

The following core principles will help focus your decision making throughout the semester as you work towards the desired outcomes listed below

CORE PRINCIPLES

1. Authentic 

   • Maintain and enhance authentic elements of public meetings, state/federal legislative process

   • Use relevant contemporary issues as basis for discussion/ Focus on "open questions" that are the subject of legitimate political debate

   • Use agenda, parliamentary procedure, formal address ( eg. Ms. Koval, Rep. Koval)

   • Minimize use of grades/points and maximize interest and intrinsic motivation

2. Inclusive

   • Invite and encourage broad participation

   • Build skills for participation

   • Create multiple means for students to participate

   • Encourage expression of multiple viewpoints

3. Student Agency

   • Seek opportunities for meaningful student choice

   • Develop authentic perspectives and opinions

   • Value students life experiences are a source of knowledge

   • Facilitate reflection on learning

4. Teacher Neutrality

   • Do not disclose opinions on issues, let students drive debate.

   • Seek a fair hearing of multiple perspectives

   • Progressive transfer of authority to students

ESSENTIAL STRATEGIES

1. Immersive Experience

   • Students learn by doing, not being taught. 

   • Reflection is a core component of consolidating learning.

2. Engagement First

   • Hook students with relevant content and tasks with a purpose

   • Integrate content so that it connects to their interests and a purpose for learning

   • Provide "just in time" content, so that students see the need to learn the content to achieve their goals. 

DESIRED OUTCOMES

1. Broad engagement and participation

2. Intrinsic motivation

3. Strong community and relationships

4. Empowered students

5. Increased civility and empathy

6. Skills and dispositions for lifelong civic engagement

7. Enhanced open mindedness/depolarization