Skills and practice opportunities
This guide offers instructors resources to promote civic discourse and related skills. Because skills require practice, instructors are encouraged to look for practice opportunities. Like physical exercise or learning a musical instrument, regular engagement tends to be more effective than saving it all for a long session on Saturday.
Two types of sample exercises
Sample exercises fall into two broad categories. These exercises can be mixed and matched to suit course needs. They can be used “as is” or adapted to align with course goals.
Reflection Questions
These exercises encourage students to look inward to reflect on their capacity for civic discourse and related skills. In keeping with the metacognitive focus of this guide, students are encouraged to reflect on their own process. More specifically, students are encouraged to build on their strengths and find ways to overcome their challenges. While these reflections do not settle difficult disagreements, they can build capacity for more productive engagement.
Structured Activities
These exercises encourage students to work together to build their collective capacity for effective communication. Students are encouraged to practice critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and civic discourse skills in real time with other human beings. The exercises come in different shapes and sizes. While they include a reflection component, the primary goal is to learn through doing.