COURSE DESCRIPTION
We are part of many different communities that shape who we are and what we believe. This course provides students with opportunities to understand better how our society and political system shape their various identities. By exploring aspects of our identities and lived experiences, we evaluate how the concept of citizenship and the individual citizen work together to create the communities we inhabit. From the launching point of the knowledge, values, and feelings we bring into the class, we uncover our own biases, explore the difference between fact and opinion, practice empathy, and learn to voice our own perspectives without silencing the perspectives of others. We investigate how power structures in our society, ranging from government to the media, affect us. Students who take this course will leave with an understanding of our political system, society, and the structural frameworks that shape our identities, while simultaneously developing increased empathy and global awareness.
WHAT STUDENTS SAY
“I really enjoyed the topics that we are touched upon. I think they are very interesting, and I love learning more about different cultures, especially those misrepresented by the media. Additionally, the topics we have discussed allowed me to discover new parts of myself and my own identity”WHAT STUDENTS DO
Learning is an active process at One Schoolhouse. Students design, create and apply. And, they engage with classmates and connect with their teachers through discussions, video conferences, and projects. Specifically, in this class students will:
MEET A TEACHER FOR THIS COURSE
SIGNATURE ACTIVITIES
Examples of signature activities and projects for this course are:
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SECOND SEMESTER?
Students wishing to pursue a civics or political science project may enroll in the course for the full year. For students continuing into Semester II, the course shifts into personalized, project-based work, where students engage in deep, sustained inquiry; authentic and iterative research; critical analysis; and rigorous reflection, revision, and assessment as they journey through a self-designed, long-term activism, design, or research project on the topic of their choosing. Guided by a One Schoolhouse teacher, students pursue individual study/self-assessment or collaborative seminar/peer-review. Pathway options from which students choose include:
Upon completion of their inquiry-driven project, students will have gained academic maturity and expanded their ability to engage in a diverse and changing world. They will be able to draw and defend conclusions from theoretical underpinnings, contextual background, and mathematical analysis or source evaluation. Finally, they will have created and tested something useful of their own design or will be able to defend a position based on their own research. COURSE APPROVAL
This course is approved by the NCAA. One Schoolhouse is fully accredited with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges through December 1, 2025; we are an approved online publisher for the University of California. |
Nicole Johnston
Teacher BA American University MPA Seton Hall University |