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Project Citizen

A program of the

Center for Civic EducationPowerpoint adapted from Bill Wilson from James Madison Uni

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What is Project Citizen?

Education for democratic citizenship

Teaches students to monitor and influence public policy

Interdisciplinary instructional program for adolescents• Focuses on state and local government• Applies learning to real world issues• Uses cooperative learning• Serves as a model performance assessment

What are the Educational Outcomes of Project Citizen?

Civic Knowledge Civic Skills

• Intellectual• Participatory

Civic Dispositions• Democratic values

and principles• Reasoned

commitment

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What are the Advantages of Project Citizen?

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Students connect with real world problems and events

Students integrate a variety of related ideas and skills

Students use many disciplines Students relate assessment activities to instructional

activities Students cooperate with peers in group settings Students work with clear, attainable goals Students evaluate their own progress through self-

assessment Students benefit from the involvement of parents and

other community members

What Does the Project Citizen Program Achieve?

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The instructional program help students to learn how to monitor and influence public policy learn policy making processes develop concrete skills and the foundation

needed to become responsible participating citizens

develop effective, creative communication skills develop more positive self-images and

confidence in exercising their rights and responsibilities

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What is Public Policy?

Public policies are contained in laws, rules, regulations, decisions, and practices created by executive, legislative, and judicial branches

government bureaucracies regulatory agencies

other public decision-making bodies

What Criteria is Used to Select an Issue or Problem?

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1. Does government have the responsibility and authority to act on this issue/problem?

2. Can the issue/problem be addressed with a single policy?

3. Is it reasonable to believe that a policy can or should be written that will resolve the issue/ problem?

4. Is the issue/problem important to young people?Does it have a direct or indirect impact on them?

5. Will the class be able to find enough information to tackle the problem?

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What is the Sequence of Steps in Project Citizen?

As a class project, students work together to identify and study a problem in their community.

They propose a solution in the form of a public policy recommendation.

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What is the Sequence of Steps in Project Citizen?

They develop an action plan for getting their policy proposal adopted and implemented.

Students display their work in a portfolio and documentation binder and present it in a simulated public hearing.

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Project Citizen- Step IIdentifying Public Policy Problems

Students identify public policy problems in their communities by discussing

them with each other

interviewing family members and other adults

reading newspapers and other print sources

listening to news reports on radio and TV

Project Citizen - Step II

Selecting a problem for class studyStudents present and

discuss the problemsthey have identifiedand then select oneproblem for theirclass project

Problems in our community

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1. Drugs

2. Violence

3. Pollution

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Project Citizen - Step III Gathering Information on the Problem Selected

Students gather information on the chosen public policy problem from a variety of sources

Interviews and surveys, Printed sources Radio and television, Libraries, Internet Scholars and professors, Lawyers and judges Community

organizations and interest groups, Legislative offices Administrative offices

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Project Citizen - Step IV Developing a Class Portfolio

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Group 1 - Develops an explanation of the problem

Group 2 - Evaluates alternative policies Group 3 - Develops a proposed policyconsistent with constitutional principles Group 4 - Develops an action plan

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Portfolio and Documentation Binder

Explanation of the problem Evaluation of alternative policies Presentation of

proposed policy Presentation of

an action planthe

problem

alternative policies

documentation section

our classpolicy

our action plan

Project Citizen - Step V Presenting the Portfolio Public hearing before a panel of

evaluators chosen from the community

Presentations by each of the groups

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What are the Assessment Advantages of Presenting the Portfolio?

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Students connect with real world problems and events

Students integrate a variety of related ideas and skills

Students use many disciplines

Students relate assessment activities to instructional activities

What are the Assessment Advantages of Presenting the Portfolio?

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Students cooperate with peers in group settings

Students work with clear, attainable goals Students evaluate their own progress

through self-assessment

Students benefit from the involvement of parents and other community members

Step VI - Reflecting onthe Learning Experience

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Exercising the rights of citizens

Fulfilling the responsibilities of citizens

Learning the responsibilities of public officials

Learning the purposes of democratic government

Learning the organization & procedures of government

Learning the role of civil society

Acquiring Civic Knowledge

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Step VI -ReflectingDeveloping Civic Skills

Intellectual skills• Identify, describe, explain, evaluate a position, take a position

and defend a position Participatory skills Values

• Individual rights, Life, Liberty, Justice, Equality, Diversity, Truth and Common good

Principles Popular sovereignty, Constitutional government, Rule of law,

Separation of powers, Checks and balances, Minority rights and Judicial review

Fostering traits of character• Individual responsibility, Open mindedness,

Negotiation and compromise and Patriotism

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Key Findings

Students believe they can make a difference in their communities

Students do make a difference in their communities

Students develop greater understanding of public policy

Students develop greater understanding of challenges facing policy makers

Students learn how their government works

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Key Findings

Students develop a commitment to active citizenship

Students become involved in their communities

Students learn about specific community problems

Students learn to work in groups

Students develop important research and communication skills

Reasons to Incorporate Project Citizen into the Classroom:A Teacher’s Prospective

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Free materials Easy read for low level readers Student activities:

Allows for active student involvement and student opinions/positions are emphasized,

Gives the teacher instant feedback on students’ understanding of content,

Offers students a variety of activities:interviews, surveys, recognition of community problems, use of internet, attendance at public meetings, etc.

Presentations by students, builds self- confidence, improves speaking skills, etc.

Reasons to Incorporate Project Citizen into the Classroom:A Teacher’s Prospective

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Student interest will be high because the students choose the project and they know they will make a public presentation on it (has a stake in the project).

Public policy emphasizing citizen involvement in the community is a Virginia SOL for Government.

Parents, principals and the School Board will support the program: illustrates school involvement and gets school recognition.

Versatile program; can be used: Throughout the year, April-May (when Seniors are losing interest in

school), After We the People competition.