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Educators who participate in the seminar can receive three credits toward earning a Master of Arts degree in Education from La 91直播.  

91直播 and the Philadelphia-based are partnering to help educators begin their journey to a master鈥檚 degree.  

Teachers from across the U.S. can attend the National Constitution Center鈥檚 and receive three credits toward a master鈥檚 degree in education at La 91直播. The collaboration with La 91直播鈥檚 School of Arts & Sciences began in the Summer 2022 and helps educators gain knowledge on bringing civil dialogue and constitutional topics into the classroom through a weeklong institute at the Center workshop and caps with a final project.  

The National Constitution Center was seeking an educational partner that would provide its institute attendees with more than just its original workshops, said La 91直播 assistant professor of political science Mark Thomas, Ph.D. La 91直播’s Departments of Political Science and Education expanded the educational components of the National Constitution Center鈥檚 Civil Discourse Summer Institute by creating extra class time and a final project鈥攎aking the program the equivalent of a college course.  

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great collaboration,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淓ducators leave the program with more knowledge on civil discourse, but now also have the opportunity to pursue an additional degree.鈥�  

鈥淲e are so excited to have this partnership with the National Constitution Center,鈥� said La 91直播鈥檚 Kimberly Lewinski, Ph.D., graduate program director and associate professor of education. 鈥淚t allows us to offer a unique opportunity for students to learn about civil discourse in an authentic setting. We are thrilled to provide college credits for the course and a direct path into our master鈥檚 degree program. We look forward to future course collaborations.鈥� 

Offering education on civil discourse and dialogue is engrained in the National Constitution Center鈥檚 work, said Sarah Harris, the NCC鈥檚 director of education.  

鈥淭he need for civil dialogue has increased for all teachers, and this education spans disciplines and grade levels,鈥� she said.  

Attendees walk away with a more thorough knowledge of the Constitution and are challenged by the work of their final project鈥攚hich thrusts them to think constructively on how to apply the Constitution in their classrooms. Last summer鈥檚 project, Thomas said, consisted of a final written assignment and a lesson plan centered on recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings.  

This summer鈥檚 programming will have similar elements. 

鈥淓ach year we have new participants, and many are just beginning to incorporate civil dialogue into their classrooms or districts,鈥� said Sheila Edwards, one of the National Constitution Center鈥檚 institute facilitators. 鈥淲e need to continue with the basic elements, such as investigating biases and positionality, that lead to the creation of norms. We will review Supreme Court cases that have high interest and impact students, teachers, and districts. The cases will be new, but our methods for analyzing and discussing the cases may remain the same.鈥�  

The results of the National Constitution Center鈥檚 Civil Discourse Summer Institute have been positive. 

Educators who attended last summer鈥檚 institute reported back to the National Constitution Center with praise for how rewarding the programming was toward their pedagogy. Edwards said attendees commented on how the workshops helped them bring new tools and ways of thinking into their classrooms.  

Now with the La 91直播 partnership, the National Constitution Center can bring in the University鈥檚 faculty to pair with its education staff and promote the attendees鈥� continued education.  

鈥淲e shared information with (attendees) on La 91直播 and the Master of Arts in Education program to take that searching component out for them and eliminate obstacles to furthering education,鈥� Harris said.  

鈥擬eg Ryan