Innovative Professors and the Civic-Minded Student

28 Pages Posted: 2 Feb 2012 Last revised: 21 Feb 2012

Date Written: 2012

Abstract

When I began teaching at Collin College the first few semesters everything was new and teaching the same two sections of American/Texas Government1 was exciting and a constant challenge. However, as I began to settle into my role as a teacher 2 I started to realize a few things that fundamentally challenged and changed my approach to teaching. Teaching the same sections of the two courses that students are required to take as part of their core curriculum in Texas started to become a chore. I even found myself experiencing a defeating feeling when having to teach the same topics and dreading certain chapters either because of their monotony, or simply because I was following the structure of the textbook (or every other textbook for that matter). Another striking issue that I was confronted with was students attitudes and lack of engagement in regards to politics. I learned that many students did not realize how decisions made by any level of government or governing body can and does have a direct impact on them. As I began to discuss with students where they received their political knowledge from (aside from the obvious ones like parents, community, school etc.), I was confronted with the overwhelming theme of how government was even approached in the first place. I further noticed that students lacked the tools and knowledge to be political agents of social change; therefore, even asking them to become engaged resulted with frustration. Whether in high school or at another institution, the government classes’ primary role was not to create civic minded students. And although I see the necessity of teaching the fundamental concepts of the discipline, I also see that it is the responsibility of the discipline to create the civic-minded student. So there I was, with what I felt were my two larger challenges: How could I keep myself interested, passionate and relevant as a teacher, while at the same time engaging these students with the material and creating civic-minded students.

Suggested Citation

Iwanek, Sonia, Innovative Professors and the Civic-Minded Student (2012). APSA 2012 Teaching & Learning Conference Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1997669

Sonia Iwanek (Contact Author)

Collin College ( email )

Plano, TX 75093
United States

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