Students Don't Need Motivation for Civics: They Need Confidence

Part one of my S5E33 Schoolutions conversation, Colleen O'Brien, Ed.D., discusses the critical role of civic education in fostering informed citizens. She argues that providing students with real civic experiences, not just textbook definitions, can shift their engagement from passive observation to active participation. 

Some Episode Mentions:

• Dr. Diana Owen, Georgetown University 
• Civic Education Research Lab (CERL)
• Justice Anthony Kennedy 
• Center for Civic Education
• Common Cause 
• Civics for Colorado (formerly C3LE)
• Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC)
• iCivics 
• National School Reform Faculty (student work protocol)
• We the People 
• Project Citizen 
• Citizen Nation
• 90% of students say it's important to know how government works
• More Information & Upcoming Events from Colleen

⏱️ CHAPTERS
0:00 – Introduction: Anxiety vs. Apathy in Civics
1:00 – Meet Colleen O'Brien
2:00 – The Research: 90% of Students Want Civic Education
4:30 – Core Beliefs of Civics for Colorado
5:45 – The Voting Booth Moment: A Story About Student Confidence
8:30 – Why Civics Education Is Uneven Across Colorado
11:30 – The Cost of Low Civic Literacy on Society
14:00 – The Three-Legged Stool: Knowledge, Skills & Action
17:00 – What Justice Kennedy Said About Student Discussion
18:30 – Confidence vs. Arrogance in Civic Participation
19:30 – We the People Program Explained
23:00 – Project Citizen: Student-Led Community Change
26:30 – Civics Starts at the Elementary Level
28:30 – Lightning Round with Colleen O'Brien
29:45 – Wrap-Up & Preview of Part 2

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