Category: Citizenship

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Inquiring Minds are Engaged Minds: Exit Polling as an Active Learning Exercise

Today’s guest post comes from Dr. Justin Crofoot (Penn State University, PA) and  Dr. Rolfe Peterson (Susquehanna University, PA)!

In the Fall 2024 semester, students from 11 different universities across Pennsylvania (including ours: Penn State and Susquehanna University) conducted exit poll surveys for the presidential election. Each university independently organized their students and sent them to precincts to survey voters regarding their vote choice, policy preferences, and other important issues. This active learning project gave students the opportunity to gain real-world experience, insight into the electoral process, and practice analyzing survey data. Below we discuss the preparation, the exercise, and the pedagogical use during and after.

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Students study Politics to learn how to change their world. Our teaching methods can help them to achieve this

This is a guest post by Dr Susan Kenyon, Principal Lecturer in Politics at Canterbury Christ Church University

I am just back from a wonderful week in Philadelphia, at my first American Political Science Association conference. 

Pigeon and I met for the first time and he treated me to a fantastic discussion about all things active learning.  He encouraged me to write this blog – thanks, Pigeon! 

I am privileged to lead the first year Introduction to Politics and International Relations module at Canterbury Christ Church University.  It is essentially an academic skills module, which frames all subject-learning around questions that encourage critical thinking – Should we save the planet? Should the world be more democratic? – alongside other key skills, including deconstructing assessment briefs, how to use your feedback, referencing, etc. 

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Workshop: Pedagogies for Citizenship, Activism and Just Futures, 24 May, UCL

ALPS readers who may be in or around London on 24 May and anyone interested – join us on UCL campus for a workshop on pedagogies for active citizenship and creating a more just future.

The Centre for the Pedagogy of Politics (CPP) and the Climate Politics Cluster (CPC) at the UCL Department of Political Science are joining forces for a day bringing together academics and students interested in the role of political citizenship in pedagogy – related to a range of themes including climate change, conflict and insecurity, gender inequality and assessment diversity for political engagement.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided throughout the day and the event is free to attend!

Find out more, see abstract submissions and sign up here.

Programme highlights include:

Opening address by Professor Bryony Hoskins, chair in Comparative Social Science at the University of Roehampton  

           Panels and discussions on:  

• The pedagogies of climate education and environmental action
• How e-portfolios facilitate students’ civic engagement
• Pedagogies of global (in)security and war
• A chance to chat informally and share experiences with our guests and other educators at all career stages