Call for Participation: Congress in the Classroom 2011
Cindy
Year
* Deadline: April 15, 2011 *
Congress in the Classroom is a national, award-winning education
program now in
its 20th year. Developed and sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional
Center, the
workshop is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information on
teaching
about Congress.
Congress in the Classroom is designed for high school or middle school
teachers
who teach U.S. history, government, civics, political science, or
social
studies. Forty teachers will be selected to take part in the program.
All
online applications must be received by no later than April 15, 2011.
We will
notify individuals of our decisions by April 30, 2011.
Although the workshop will feature a variety of sessions, the 2011
program will
feature a broad overview of Congress and blends two kinds of sessions.
Some
emphasize ideas and resources that teachers can use almost immediately
in their
classrooms-sessions about primary sources and Best Practices are good
examples.
Other sessions deal with more abstract topics. Think of them as
resembling
graduate-level courses, stronger on content than on classroom
applications. If
you are looking for a program that features one or the other
exclusively,
Congress in the Classroom® is probably not right for you.
Throughout the program, you will work with subject matter experts as
well as
colleagues from across the nation. This combination of firsthand
knowledge and
peer-to-peer interaction will give you new ideas, materials, and a
professionally enriching experience.
"Until now so much of what I did in my class on Congress was
straight
theory-this is what the Constitution says, "noted one of our
teachers." Now I
can use these activities and illustrations to help get my students
involved in
the class and at the very least their community but hopefully in the
federal
government. This workshop has given me a way to help them see how
relevant my
class is and what they can do to help make changes in society."
The 2011 workshop will be held Monday, July 25-28, 2011, at Embassy
Suites,
East Peoria, Illinois. The program is certified by the Illinois State
Board of
Education for up to 22 Continuing Education Units.
The program also is endorsed by the National Council for the Social
Studies.
Participants are responsible for (1) a non-refundable $125
registration fee
(required to confirm acceptance after notice of selection) and (2)
transportation to and from Peoria, Illinois. Many school districts
will pay all
or a portion of these costs.
The Center pays for three nights lodging at the headquarters hotel
(providing a
single room for each participant), workshop materials, local
transportation,
all but three meals, and presenter honoraria and expenses. The Center
spends
between $40,000 and $45,000 to host the program each year.
What follows are the sessions planned for the 2011 edition of Congress
in the
Classroom. Please re-visit the site for changes as the program
develops.
Session Titles, 2011:
* Jumping Right In Frank Mackaman, The Dirksen Congressional Center
CONFIRMED
* Congressional Insight: A Simulation Colleen Vivori, National
Association of
Manufacturers CONFIRMED
* Using Fantasy Congress to Engage My Students Scott Corner,
Government and
Politics Teacher, Palma High School, Salinas CA CONFIRMED
* Congress at Work Christine Blackerby, Center for Legislative
Archives,
National Archives and Records Administration CONFIRMED
* Help for Teachers from the Office of The Historian Kathleen Johnson,
Oral
Historian, Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives
CONFIRMED
* A View of Congress from the White House: What the Presidential Tapes
Reveal
KC Johnson, Department of History, Brooklyn College CONFIRMED
* The Congressional Time Line Project Frank Mackaman, The Dirksen
Congressional
Center CONFIRMED
* Congress for Kids Cindy Koeppel, The Dirksen Congressional Center
CONFIRMED
* A Journalist's Take on Congress David Lightman, Congressional
Correspondent,
McClatchy News Service CONFIRMED
* Teaching with Primary Sources Cindy Rich, Project Director, Teaching
with
Primary Sources, Eastern Illinois University CONFIRMED
* Leadership in the House During the 112th Congress Bryan Marshall,
Department
of Political Science, Miami University of Ohio CONFIRMED
* New Approaches to Teaching about Congress Paul C. Milazzo,
Department of
History, Ohio University CONFIRMED
* Listen Up Legislators: How to Get Your Point Across Stephanie Vance,
Advocacy
Associates, Washington DC CONFIRMED
* Best Practices CONFIRMED
* The Impact of Congressional Redistricting on the 2012 Elections
TENTATIVE
Take a look at The Dirksen Center Web site --
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm --
to see
what participants say about the program.
* REGISTRATION *
If you are interested in learning more about the sessions and
registering for
the Congress in the Classroom 2011 workshop, you can complete an
online
registration form found at:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/programs_CiCapplication.htm
Cindy Koeppel
The Dirksen Congressional Center
2815 Broadway
Pekin, IL 61554
309.347.6432 Fax
Email: ckoe...@dirksencenter.org
Web site: http://www.dirksencongressionalcenter.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DirksenCenter
Twitter: http://twitter.com/dirksencenter