Election & Voting �Resources for �Adult Learners

COABE 2024

Jennifer Gagliardi

jgagliardi@musd.org

March 18, 2024

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Voting and Election Resources for Adult Learners�bit.ly/voting-padlet

Agenda

• Welcome, Purpose, Introduction, Discussion Questions
• Relevant Resources
• Government / Organization
• 2024 Lesson Plans / Adaptable 2020 Lesson Plans
• Online Classroom Activities / Videos
• Info/Media Literacy Resources
• Jobs/Volunteer Opportunities
• Further Considerations
• Close

Discussion Questions

Participants identify the latest resources in the form of pdfs, videos, online courses, with emphasis on the electoral process, voting rights, and voting responsibilities. By adapting and incorporating these resources, participants can implement learning strategies appropriate for ESL, EL/Civics, GED, ABE, IELCE/IET, or Citizenship classrooms, political campaigns, and voting booths.

Introduction

Please introduce yourself in-person and online in the chat.

Please share any questions or concerns about teaching elections and voting in an adult education class.

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Discussion Questions 1 and 2

1. What challenges and opportunities do you look forward to in the 2024 Election?

2. How do you introduce, teach, and discuss American voting and elections content in your classroom of citizen and non-citizen students?

Discussion Questions 1 and 2

1. What challenges and opportunities do you look forward to in the 2024 Election?

2. How do you introduce, teach, and discuss American voting and elections content in your classroom of citizen and non-citizen students?

Discussion Questions 3 and 4

3. How can we create a safe space for adult learners to discuss civics and current events?

4. How can we encourage students to critically consume media to make informed choices?

Discussion Question 5

Why vote? Why care?

Voting and Election Resources for Adult Learners�bit.ly/voting-padlet

.gov Resources

Find answers to common questions about U.S. elections and voting.

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• Voter registration
• How, where, and when to vote
• Decide who to vote for
• State and local election offices
• Congressional, state, and local elections

• Voting and election laws
• Presidential election process
• Inauguration of the president of the United States
• Find results from past elections

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.org Resources

Lifting our voice to advocate for ourselves and our community

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• Advocacy (ex: State “Leg” Days)
• Ballot Measures, propositions, referendums
• Community and civics groups
• Multi-Lingual election and voting material

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• Participate in school board meetings and town halls
• Political Parties, Platforms
• Voter Guides
• Voting Rights

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2024 Election Lesson Plans

Teach voting and elections to Adult Learners

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• Advocacy (ex: State “Leg” Days)
• Community and civics groups
• Elections, Suffrage, and Voting History
• Generative AI and Social Media
• The Constitution: Article 1 & 2, plus Voting Amendments
• Voting Rights

Update these 2020 Lesson Plans

Hindsight is 2020. Adapt these older resources.

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• Before you begin, look closely the old lesson plan. Does the core content, supporting details, or delivery (ex: poster v. slide deck) need to be changed, refreshed, or edited?
• Check and correct names, dates, graphics, issues, locations.
• Use edtech tools to adapt accessibility, digital platforms, language/literacy levels, links, media.

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Online Activities

Use edtech tools to deliver election and voting content.

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• Use edtech tools to adapt accessibility, digital platforms, language/literacy levels, links, media.
• Advocacy tools to contact representatives (ex: COABE & TESOL)
• Electoral college maps and world elections maps
• Interactive ballots
• “Promote the Vote” video contests
• Survey and/or polling activities and tools
• Webquests

Videos

Adapt videos and transcripts to deliver election and voting content.

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• Voting and election vides to teach American culture, English vocabulary, and digital skills.
• Crash Course, Khan Academy, TED-ed Elections Playlists
• Story Corps: A More Perfect Union
• VOA and VOX Election 2024 Playlist & Explainer Playlists
• “Voting Matters” student created videos and shorts
• We Speak NYC: Ranked Choice Voting

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Digital, Info, and Media Literacy

Build digital, info, and media literacy to make informed choices.

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• Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart
• American English at State: Journalism and media literacy courses to apply English
• CISA Graphic Novel “Real Fake” and DHS Media Thinking Onlinr
• Common Sense Media, Facing History, iCivics, Information Fluency
• NewLit: The Sift newsletter and lesson plans
• VOA Press Freedom and VOA Learning English News Literacy

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Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities

Participating in the democratic process

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• Local ballot measures and candidates
• Your State’s Secretary of State: Poll Worker (staff) & volunteer
• EAC Poll Worker Resources
• CISA.gov Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Agency: Voting Security
• CISA.gov Education and Career Development Resources/Toolkit
• NICCS.cisa.gov: National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies Pathways Tool

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Tue March 19 COABE Civics Ed Sessions

• 8:00 am Measuring Immigrant Integration: Policy Implications of the Expanded Use of Integration-Related Measures in Adult Education with Jake Hofstetter, MPI
• 11:50 am Age-friendly ESL/citizenship instruction for beginners with Lynne Weintraub, Jones Library ESL Center
• 11:50 am Access America: Supporting Immigrant Integration via USA Learns' Online Language Classroom, A. Willis
• 2:00 pm Students as Voting Ambassadors: Leadership, Civics, Basic Skills, Equity with Cynthis Peters, World Ed
• 2:00 pm USA Learns Citizenship - A FREE (and Recently Updated) Online Course with Alisa Taguchi

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Wed March 20 COABE Civics Ed Sessions

• 7:00-8:00 am Breakfast and informal conversation about civics and English instruction, Hosted by Bill Bliss and Pearson, Location: Governors Chamber D, Gaylord Opryland Resort RSVP: bit.ly/3PlFU2E
• 12:40 pm Accessing Quality ELA, Civics Education and Citizenship Resources to Enhance Practice, with Dr. Cherise Moore, Susan Finn Miller, Jennifer Gagliardi
• 12:40 pm Citizenship Upgrade: Using an App to Prepare Students for the Naturalization Interview with Drew Robinson, Learning Upgrade

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