Connecting Students to the World: Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley
Case Study
12th Grade American Democracy Class, Lowell High School, San Francisco
What better way to enrich the curriculum on the electoral process than through an online civics lesson focusing on the life of California's former Senator Alan Cranston? Cranston is one of many distinguished political figures from all over the world who have participated in the Conversations series. Let's begin by understanding the steps of one teacher who used our archive.
Because the United States has become a model for the rest of the world, the Institute of International Studies has created a research gallery where former U.S. legislators tell us how democracy works and why politics became an important part of their lives.
These lessons can be directed related to State Standards.
Teacher Gale Ow focused on the life of Alan Cranston.
Her students read his interview:
Their next assignment was to describe their experience in a journal.
They then submitted questions to the Institute for Mr. Cranston to answer. They focused on four themes: his life story, the work of politics, nuclear weapons, and lessons he learned from his work.
After reading Mr. Cranston's answers, the students wrote him back.
Mr. Cranston then put a link to the student e-mail exchange from the website of his organization, the Global Security Institute
Teachers Gale Ow, Barbara Brewer, and Thaise daRosa met with CSW staff Harry Kreisler and Nanou Matteson to discuss the success of Gale's use of the program.
See also: Interview with San Francisco teachers featuring Gale Ow.
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