Teaching Civics for Justice Illinois

Welcome to Teaching Civics for Justice Illinois, a professional learning experience for middle and high school Civics and Service Learning educators. It aims to support more inquiry-based and justice-centered Civics and Service Learning practices. We offer this professional learning experience as an effort to revitalize Civics and Service Learning classrooms and to help students continue developing their inquiries, analyses, and actions about their places and spaces in the world.

In each of the five modules that make up Teaching Civics for Justice Illinois you will engage in learning, reflection, and creative exercises that prepare you to engage in what we have termed a Critical Civics education.

TCJI is completely free and upon completion, you will receive 24 Professional Development Hours and an ISBE-approved microcredential.

100% of participating educators would recommend the TCJI professional learning series to others.

100% of participating educators felt that the TCJI professional learning series shared resources related to critical civics that they can continue to use and learn from.

99%of participating educators believe the knowledge and skills learned in the TCJI professional learning series will enhance their civics instruction.

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Module 1 – Kasserian Ingera

Build your conceptual knowledge of what we have termed Critical Civics and Service Learning. You’ll learn about the framework and reflect on how it might apply to your practices.

Module 2 – Tú Eres Mi Otro Yo

Prepare for practices that engage in partnership with your students, their families, and their communities. Learn about systems and power and oppression and build practices that support your students’ analyses of domination and partnership along their inquiry journeys.

Module 3 – Reading and Re-Writing the World

Get ready for student-driven inquiry, analysis, and action. You’ll learn from practicing Civics teachers and prepare for your role as a facilitator of Civics and Service Learning.

Module 4 – Preparing for Critical Civics Instruction

Create instructional tools that meet the aims of Civics and Service Learning in Illinois. You’ll set intentions, engage in curricular revisions, and get feedback on your progress from stakeholders in your community.

Module 5 – From Theory to Action

Reflect on the previous modules and consider how you might sustain your critical Civics and Service Learning practices beyond this professional learning series.

As I reflect on this professional learning journey, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to connect with inspiring educators and to delve deeper into the world of critical civics education. It has been a transformative experience that has ignited a passion within me to create a more just and equitable future for my students.

Gustavo R.

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Resources

Getting Started

We estimate that it will take you 24 hours to complete all five modules within this professional learning experience (Intro:1 hour, M1: 3 hours, M2: 4 hours, M3: 5 hours, M4: 8 hours, M5: 3 hours). You can pause at any time. Be sure to save any work you have completed outside of Canvas and click submit when uploading assignments within Canvas.

Each of the assignments included in this professional learning experience will be evaluated using an Artifact Review Rubric that evaluates your submission based on three areas: completion, depth of argument, inclusion of learning resources from module.

Upon completion of each of the required activities, you will receive 24 Professional Development Hours (PDH) offered and a microcredential on your Professional Educator License (PEL) through the Illinois State Board of Education. During the last module, you will complete a survey that will ensure you receive the PDHs and they are uploaded to your Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) account. The survey will also be used to apply the microcredential to your PEL.

For more information on enrollment, please visit this helpful enrollment guide.

Should you have any questions or need support at any stage of this professional learning experience please reach out to socialstudies@education.illinois.edu.

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