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Voter Engagement Across All Disciplines

Faculty FPD – August 2020

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Welcome!

  • Introductions
  • Why include voter engagement in my course?
  • Making the connection: Why vote?
  • Break out group discussion
  • MDC Resources and Partner Tools
  • How? Lesson Plan Template & Demo
  • Putting it all together – create your own plan

Workshop Agenda

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We know that education is the great equalizer and it is essential that we educate our students to be the next generation of civically engaged changemakers, starting with our right to vote. At MDC, we know that the health of our democracy depends on an informed and engaged citizenry, and when young people opt out, their voices aren’t heard and our community suffers.

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August 2019 – August 2022 UFMDC – MDC Agreement 

ARTICLE 1 - ACADEMIC FREEDOM

Section 1. Academic Freedom and Responsibilities

 

The College and UFMDC recognize that academic freedom, coupled with adequate performance of academic duties, is essential to the full development of any educational institution and apply to teaching, research and creative activities. Faculty engaged in such activities shall be free to cultivate a spirit of inquiry and scholarly criticism and to examine ideas in an atmosphere of freedom and confidence. Faculty are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter that has no relation to their subject.

 

Faculty are citizens, members of a learned profession, and respected employees of an educational institution. When they speak or write as citizens, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations. As scholars and educational officers, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their utterances. Hence, they should at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and shall indicate that they are not speaking for the institution. 

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Changemaking Education: sparks a sense of agency in students and provides real-life opportunities to understand problems and practice creating positive social and environmental change.  

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The Jaffer Institute

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The mission of the Institute for Civic Engagement & Democracy is to transform learning, strengthen democracy, and contribute meaningfully to the common good by awakening and empowering students for lifelong civic engagement.

Our Mission

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Lifelong Civic Engagement

Academic Service-Learning

Civic Leadership

THREE PATHWAYS AT iCED

Democratic Engagement

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Educational experiences that intentionally prepare students for informed, engaged participation in their communities’ civic and democratic life by providing opportunities to develop civic knowledge, skills, and mindsets through learning and practice.

    • Voter Engagement
    • Civic Action Scorecard

Democratic Engagement

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  • Identify course competencies and/or MDC learning outcomes related to voter engagement 
  • Understand the importance of being non-partisan 
  • Explain the steps necessary for a student to be election-ready  
  • Explain the role of mdc.edu/vote and the MDC election guide  
  • Explain how students who aren’t eligible to vote can still be involved  
  • Design an “election-ready” module for your course  

Workshop Objectives

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How do students decide to vote (or not)?

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How do students decide to vote (or not)?

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How do students decide to vote (or not)?

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How do students decide to vote (or not)?

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How do students decide to vote (or not)?

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How do students decide to vote (or not)?

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Empowering students to be election ready means:

  1. Helping students understand why it is important to vote

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  • Helping students locate the resources to get informed

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  • Removing barriers to their access to vote

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  • Helping students make a plan to vote

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What will be your Election-Ready learning objective(s)? 

Course Competency

    • Pick one of your course competencies and begin thinking: how can I explore a topic related to voting using this competency?
    • What will you have students DO? Discuss? Analyze? Or?

Learning Outcome #6

Students will be able to create a strategy for fulfilling their civic responsibility to vote (or if ineligible, helping others vote) by first making the personal connection to why voting is important, then by learning about how to vote, and finally by making a plan to vote in the General Election.

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MDC Learning Outcomes

As graduates of Miami Dade College, students will be able to:

  • Communicate effectively using listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
  • Use quantitative analytical skills to evaluate and process numerical data.
  • Solve problems using critical and creative thinking and scientific reasoning.
  • Formulate strategies to locate, evaluate, and apply information.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures, including global and historical perspectives.
  • Create strategies that can be used to fulfill personal, civic, and social responsibilities.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of ethical thinking and its application to issues in society.
  • Use computer and emerging technologies effectively.
  • Demonstrate an appreciation for aesthetics and creative activities.
  • Describe how natural systems function and recognize the impact of humans on the environment.

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How to connect course content to voting

Life & Physical Science

Example: Analyze the impact of laws/public policy on climate change in Miami.

Understanding that elected officials make decisions that impact climate change helps students see why they should vote for the representatives making those decisions.

Arts & Social Sciences

Example: Research the history of voting and discuss what has changed and what hasn’t.

Understanding the history of voting in the U.S. helps students make the connection to why their vote matters.

Math & Technology

Example: Analyze the turnout statistics for Miami-Dade elections.

Applying skills to a voting-related topic can help introduce the idea of representation and help students make the connection to their vote.

Business

Example: Analyze the messaging of three campaign posters/media and discuss which message speaks to the intended audience (voters) the best.

Understanding communications can help students see that elected officials are like a business, constantly communicating with constituents, the customers.

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Break out group discussion:

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How do MDC Learning Outcomes / course competencies relate to voting and democracy?

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How can you help students see the importance of voting through course content and/or skills application?

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    • mdc.edu/vote
    • Student Election Guide
    • Register to vote online guide
      • Check out the BBL resource toolkit

MDC Resources

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    • Engage Miami
    • Miami Foundation forums
    • Votemiami.org
    • Votemiami.civicengine.com (powered by ballotready.org)

Partner Resources

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Lesson Planning Guide & Workshop Assignment

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You have the remaining time to begin your plan and start your assignment

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Work Time

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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

- Margaret Mead

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Questions? Contact

MaryGrace Longoria, Coordinator

mlongori@mdc.edu

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Josh Young, College-wide Director

jyoung@mdc.edu

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Get in touch.

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mdc.edu/iced

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