Model and Strategy
One would never have a biology class without a lab. Why should civics be any different?
Young people must be given opportunities to partake in our democracy. But this does not happen overnight. They must gain knowledge on current issues, build the skill-set to address them, then find and carry out practical solutions. iCivics wants to prepare 1,700 high school students in San José to do just this. They will invest themselves in serious community projects – ones they care about – and take up the mantle of thoughtful and active citizenship.
Our Civics Lab is a year-long scalable initiative. It bridges three key concepts into one:
1. Innovation in game-based learning
2. Ongoing professional development for civics teachers
3. Applied service-learning opportunities for students
Our approach rests on a key fact: students learn best by doing. Game-based learning allows them to “step into” the decision-maker’s shoes. They make sense of a challenging subject in a fun yet relevant way. Teachers then guide them through a well-structured civic project: students get to engage in a cycle of research, action, and reflection for real community problems. Put simply, they get to practice civics in action.
Impact
iCivics’ success blends innovation with impactful learning. We are a one-stop-shop for civics teachers:
Our games capture students’ imagination for civics.
The curriculum deepens the subject in a non-partisan, engaging way.
Our Professional Development [PD] is blended and ongoing, equipping teachers with superior content knowledge and instructional skills.
The projects that students complete benefit their long-term civic dispositions and their communities.
Ultimately, we hope to have a successful, practical and replicable “Civics Lab” model for other districts.
iCivics’ unique combination of digital simulation learning – 1 of 6 proven high-quality civic education practices - with robust PD and real life projects is a powerful solution to cultivating more informed and active citizens.
Students learn best by doing. This project will help San José high school students – a large and diverse student body – understand civic engagement in relevant ways. The games will allow them to be the decision-makers and understand first-hand the power of local government and how to affect change.
Teachers also need meaningful support, beyond curriculum. They lack training on how to expand civic education beyond the classroom. To ensure sustainable impact in – and beyond – the classroom, iCivics’ PD will focus on civics content and instructional strategies for teaching civics in the 21st century, including how to engage ELLs. Civics teachers should feel comfortable engaging students in discussions of local policy and social issues. The goal is to engage young people in civic life and instill lifelong habits of community engagement. Teachers will engage their students in local, guided projects to deepen the learning and offer direct and real-life application in their communities.
Leadership
-
Louise Dubé
Executive Director
-
Emma Humphries
Chief Education Officer