AI and Civic Engagement

Chapter 5: Exploring Civic Issues with AI

ISTE Standard: Knowledge Constructor

This chapter was inspired by the ISTE Knowledge Constructor standard.

Take a look at the videos below to see this standard in action in real world classroom settings!

Resources for Learning Plan 5.1: Exploring Local Histories through AI-Powered Research and Advocacy

Origins of Names of US States. United States Department of the Interior (1974).
U.S. Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey. U.S. Department of the Interior.
Teaching Native American Histories. University of Massachusetts Amherst (2019).
Presidential Actions Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness. The White House, January 20, 2025.
Unveiling of Native Spaces - Indigenous Street Signs Project. City of Cambridge (MA).

Resources for Learning Plan 5.2: Who Decides? Federalism and AI-Simulated Legislative Hearings

Federalism and the Tenth Amendment

Federalism and the Constitution. Constitution Annotated. Library of Congress.
Intro Brief: Federalism. National Constitution Center.
The Tenth Amendment. National Constitution Center.
What is Federalism? Things Explained. Georgia Public Broadcasting (includes VIDEO).

Teaching Resources

Self-Driving Taxis Are Catching On. Are You Ready? OnTech, The New York Times (November 24, 2025).
Digital tools for curating annotation collections of resources:
- - Wakelet.
  - Padlet.
  - Google Docs or Slides.
Mock Legislative Hearing. Landmark Cases of the Supreme Court. Street Law & The Supreme Court Historical Society. (Teaching Resource)
Claude Artifact: 10th Amendment Legislative Hearing Simulator (see screenshot below).

Screenshot of a webpage titled "10th Amendment Legislative Hearing Simulator" with the subtitle "Explore the tension between state and federal authority." Below, it invites users to "Select a current federalism issue to investigate." The page displays five clickable issue boxes with short descriptions and dispute summaries. Data Privacy and Protection – Question: Should states or the federal government regulate how companies collect and use personal data? Current dispute: California passed CCPA, while other states have different rules. Federal government wants uniform standards. Link: “Investigate This Issue.” Renewable Energy Standards – Question: Who should set requirements for clean energy production and carbon emissions? Current dispute: States like California have aggressive climate goals, while federal standards vary by administration. Link: “Investigate This Issue.” Minimum Wage Laws – Question: Should wage standards be set at the state or federal level? Current dispute: Federal minimum wage is $7.25, but many states have set higher rates up to $15+/hour. Link: “Investigate This Issue.” Education Standards and Testing – Question: Who should determine curriculum standards and student assessment methods? Current dispute: States control education, but federal funding comes with requirements and standards. Link: “Investigate This Issue.” Healthcare Access and Medicaid – Question: Should states or the federal government control healthcare program expansion? Current dispute: Some states expanded Medicaid under ACA, others refused. Ongoing debate over state flexibility. Link: “Investigate This Issue.”

Resources for Learning Plan 5.3: Identifying Misinformation and Disinformation in an Age of AI

Misinformation and Disinformation

Why Misinformation Matters [video]. PBS.
Checkology: Misinformation [free online tutorial; login required to complete]. News Literacy Project.
Study: On Twitter, false news travels faster than true stories. Research project finds humans, not bots, are primarily responsible for spread of misleading information. MIT News, March 8, 2018.
The spread of true and false news online. Science. 2018.

Real or AI?

A.I. Videos Have Never Been Better. Can You Tell What's Real? Stuart A. Thompson. The New York Times, June 29, 2025.
Quiz: AI or Real?. BBC.
“Real or Fake’ Game. Leon Furze.

Fact Checking and Information Evaluation

How to Read the News Like a Fact Checker. Facing History & Ourselves (2019).
S.I.F.T. for Fact Checking. University Libraries. University of Colorado Boulder (2024).
CRAAP Test. University of Chicago Library (2025).
Using the RADAR Framework to Evaluate Sources. Loyola Marymount University (2024).
Debunkbot. Test Your Beliefs Against an AI.
How to Search the Web Without AI Content: A Comprehensive Guide. Tech2Geek, April 24, 2025.

Example College Student Projects to Help Others Identify Misinformation and Fake Content

Real vs. Fake - Ethan C.
Real or Fake: Can you tell the difference in media? - Bella H.
Real or Fake? Testing digital awareness in a world of AI - Keira J.
AI: Real or Fake? - Meghan M.

Resources for Learning Plan 5.4: Developing Tax Literacy with AI

National Priorities Project: How the Federal Budget Affects You and Where Your Taxes Went (2025).
Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Internal Revenue Service (2025).
16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Federal Income Tax (1913). National Archives (2022).
Policy Basics: Where Do Our Federal Tax Dollars Go? Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, January 28, 2025.

Additional Learning Plans

Bonus Learning Plan: Democracy vs. Algocracy

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