Election Year Teaching Toolkit
Your Election Year Teaching Toolkit
» 5 Strategies for Teaching Through the 2024 US Elections
Discover five evidence-based strategies to help instructors navigate teaching during the 2024 U.S. elections. These strategies promote inclusivity, support student well-being, and encourage meaningful engagement with election-related topics. Learn how to acknowledge the moment, provide flexible support, integrate relevant course connections, prepare for challenging conversations, and promote civic engagement. Each strategy includes practical tips, suggested communications, and ideas for adapting them to your teaching style. Explore how you can create a supportive, empathetic learning environment during this election season. Read more to see how you can implement these strategies!
» Beyond the Ballot: Designing Meaningful Post-Election Class Experiences
Navigate the complexities of post-election teaching with Beyond the Ballot: Designing Meaningful Post-Election Class Experiences. This guide offers strategies for effective dialogue, reflective activities, and creating balanced learning goals. Covering topics like building a supportive classroom climate, guiding students in respectful discussions, and aligning course content with civic engagement, Beyond the Ballot provides tools to foster understanding and connection in this important moment. Click to learn more.
» From Tension to Teaching: 10 Activities for Creating Inclusive Learning Spaces after the Election
Prepare to lead an inclusive classroom with activities and strategies that engage students post-election, supporting their emotional and academic needs. This resource offers adaptable exercises for managing tension, promoting dialogue, and fostering empathy, helping you maintain a focused, respectful learning environment while addressing course objectives.
» Engaging Polarizing Topics in the Classroom: An Introduction to Wicked Problems and the Deliberative Engagement Toolkit (Recording)
This is the recording from the October 10th event with Dr. Martin Carcasson, Professor in Communication Studies and founder/director of the CSU Center for Public Deliberation. In this session, Dr. Carcasson introduces the concept of wicked problems—a powerful framework for addressing controversial and polarizing issues. Drawing on insights from social psychology, brain science, and 18 years of experience, this recording offers practical tools and classroom exercises for engaging with complex topics.
TedTalks to Show in Your Class
Christiane Amanpour teaches critical skills for identifying credible information and promoting informed decision-making in a world of misinformation.
Chimamanda Ngozi reveals how diverse perspectives shape understanding, challenging stereotypes and encouraging critical thinking.
Robb Willer offers strategies for bridging political divides through empathy, fostering more productive and respectful discussions.
Mónica Guzmán highlights how curiosity fosters understanding, helps bridge divides and encourages open-minded, meaningful conversations.
Conversation Guides: Living Room Conversations
Living Room Conversations is a nonprofit organization that facilitates open, respectful discussions on a wide range of topics to build understanding and bridge divides. By providing structured conversation guides, they encourage people with different perspectives to come together in small group settings—often in environments like classrooms or living rooms—to share experiences and viewpoints. These conversations aim to foster empathy, reduce polarization, and create a sense of community across political, social, and cultural lines. The organization believes that dialogue, not debate, is the key to finding common ground and promoting healthy relationships.
Upcoming CSU Events
The Critical Role of the Well-Designed Discussion Guide
November 7 | 12:30 – 1:30 PM | TILT 221 & Teams
Teaching in Tense Times: The Classroom After the Election
November 12 | 12:30 – 2 PM | LSC 376-78