Teaching with Controversy
From the DuPage Regional Office of Education website:
"The McCormick Freedom Project presents its initial 'Teaching with Controversy' course, a ten week exploration of one of the six pillars of the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition's Democracy Schools Initiative, "Structured Engagement with Current and Controversial Issues." Participants will learn from experts in the field, partake in related lesson plan demonstrations, and develop materials and pedagogical guidance for immediate employment in secondary classrooms. This course is geared toward social studies teachers at the secondary level, but the overarching goal is to integrate the teaching of current and controversial issues across the curriculum, so other disciplines are encouraged to enroll.
"It delves specifically into seven proven methodologies for teaching controversial issues, with lesson plans modeled to illustrate their execution. The work of a handful of Illinois civic education organizations will also be featured. Featured methodologies include concept formation, parliamentary procedure, structured academic controversies, simulations, seminars, news literacy, primary sources, and service learning.
Course participants will:
- Understand how to structure student engagement with current and controversial issues.
- Recognize the benefits of controversial issues discussions in heterogeneous classrooms.
- Avoid the pitfalls of controversial classroom discussions.
- Synthesize proven methodologies within the parameters and curriculum of courses they currently teach.
- Apply pedagogy through related peer-tested lesson plans demonstrated throughout the course.
- Learn about the work of statewide civic education organizations and the resources they offer to students, teachers, and schools."