A simulation that turns classrooms into countries, students into citizens, and teachers into 21st century educators.
At the 2009 BC Social Studies Teachers Association’s Annual Conference, president Raquel Chin awarded Regan Ross with the “Innovator of the Year” award for developing The Civic Mirror and working with teachers to integrate it into their classrooms.
This is the second award Regan has received for his pioneering work with The Civic Mirror, the first being the Prime Minister’s Certificate of Teaching Excellence in 2008.
Carly Althauser’s middle school class at College Place Middle School in Lynnwood, WA (otherwise known as the citizens of High Range City) have just begun the Civic Mirror experience and are already beginning to tackle the tough questions. Although they have only been posting on their forum for a week, the Citizens of High Range City are already considering how this game and the experiences within it relate to the real world. The first question posted is one this author thinks many people can easily relate to:
“There’s a saying that goes something like, “Play or be played.” What do you think that means?
Do you think it’s a true statement for Civic Mirror or real life?”
The citizens of this country found they could also relate to this question. Nick.V began the conversation with the statement, “To be played is scamming people”
BrelandP stated, “I think it apply’s in both real life and in civic mirror you can get played in both”
Danielle added, “i think it means play the game and participate or get played also meaning your money and stuff being taken away. i think it goes for in the game and real life.”
Katerine took a different approach to this question, “When you play people, you scam them, so maybe the saying means to scam people before they scam you. This probably happens in real life, too.”
Although CM is a new experience for the citizens of High Range City, they are already beginning to make connections with their lives outside the game. It will be interesting to see what issues and questions they will tackle as their country progresses…
Randy Cayea’s 8th Grade civics class from Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia, otherwise known as the citizens of Ania, have begun the designs on a national flag to represent their country. While some choose to find inspiration in flags from around the world, others are creating entirely new ideas. Citizen Stephen is drawing on symbolism to create his flag:
“Description:
1. dragon in the vines represent how we are fierce.
2.Shield with the wings are protection / good luck charm?
3. skeleton saying our motto is sean being emo (hahaha jk)
4. spears and swords make up an A and right next to it is N I A…
ANIA! ”
While citizen Dean draws on political opinions for inspiration:
Two other designs in the mix…
All creations are impressive and creative. The citizens of Ania will be hard pressed to pick just one…
Check in on The Civic Mirror Trenches to find out which design will win….
Regan Ross and Lizanne Foster, teachers from the Surrey School District and CM Pioneers, will be teaching BC educators how to use The Civic Mirror by playing it in a double session at the 2009 BCSSTA Fall Conference! Teachers interested in enlivening their social studies course with an experience-based, 21st Century learning tool would do well to attend this session!
Participants will be given a fictitious family to care for by providing them with food, shelter, education, health care and more. They’ll also be given a hidden agenda; will elect a their own government who will set tax rates and make laws; will bid to own national assets in an auction; will buy, trade, and sell in an open market; and will have the opportunity to sue anyone – including their government – for breaking the law.
By playing The Civic Mirror, participants will learn:
* Its game rules and major events,
* How the online program works and how it sets up classroom events,
* How to use its Web2.0 tools to extend learning outside the classroom,
* How to capitalize on the teachable moments it provides (related to law, government, economics, and active citizenship)
The Civic Mirror fits the curricular needs of the following BC social studies courses:
* entire Grade 6 social studies course
* Social Studies 10
* Social Studies 11
* Civic Studies 11
* Economics 12
* Law 12
I’m proud to introduce to the world, the new CM Trenches researcher and writer, Sarah Connor. Hello all Civic Mirror players and instructors! I am a Social Studies/History teacher from Washington State and yes, I can fight robots from the future. I am excited to begin sharing the exciting news coming out of our Civic Mirror countries! Keep up the good work everyone and watch for posts; I know there will be a lot of exciting experiences and lessons to share!
Savas is the last Grade 12 economics student from the Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction we’ll be showcasing this week. In the video reflection below Savas shares some of the lessons he learned about life and the real-world by participating in The Civic Mirror.
QUOTABLES:
“I think that was the one thing that changed me the most: How to be active and how to play a good role in society.”
“Civic Mirror is a test for life in real society”
“Just like in life … every law is going to help somebody and hurt somebody else.”
A special thanks to Mr. Matt Anderson, the 2008/09 Civic Mirror Instructor at UASDC!
Maylin is the next Grade 12 economics student who participated in The Civic Mirror in spring 2009 we’re showcasing … from the Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction . Below she discusses her experience as a Civic Mirror citizen and what she learned about life and the real-world from it.
QUOTABLES:
“I learned that I’m very persuasive and I can get myself out of sticky situations.”
“You have to know what you want and go for it as soon as possible.”
“If other people make mistakes, you can get affected by them.”
A special thanks to Mr. Matt Anderson, the 2008/09 Civic Mirror Instructor at UASDC!
Stephen is the first Grade 12 economics student from the Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction whose Civic Mirror video reflection we’ll be showcasing this week. Enjoy listening to Stephen talk about the following points:
A special thanks to Mr. Matt Anderson, the 2008/09 Civic Mirror Instructor at UASDC!
Reflection & Connection
This is a student video reflection that was done for marks. The young man’s name is Jordan, his track record in school was less than stellar, and his experience in The Civic Mirror was full of adversity.
What’s so fascinating about this case study is that Jordan, who remained relatively behind the scenes throughout all of the Civic Mirror events until the National Court (Episode 17), demonstrates just how much he learned and discovered throughout the entire process.
This video doesn’t show Jordan at home doing social studies reading and note-taking for the first time in preparation for the cash-related reading checks (Episode 5); it doesn’t show him earning 83% on the multiple-choice section of the course’s standardized exam; and it doesn’t show him debating with his classmates and teachers about political and economic policy and human nature (see end of Episode 19).
But this video does show the piercing insights Jordan quietly arrived at after participating in The Civic Mirror … and being challenged to think deeply about the events, their significance, and how they relate to the course content, his world, and the world out there.
I couldn’t think of a better way to conclude this 20-episode classroom video series. I hope you enjoyed it!
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS CIVIC MIRROR VIDEO TUTORIAL?
Please leave them below and join the discussion!
ARE YOU WONDERING WHAT THE CIVIC MIRROR IS?
Basically it’s a government and economics simulation that turns classrooms into countries and students into citizens. Far more than just a game, The Civic Mirror is a fully comprehensive civic education program that turns the old rules of teaching and learning on their head. Students actively assume real-world citizenship roles – both in the classroom and online – and work as individuals to provide for imaginary families and achieve hidden agendas, while working together to build a strong, democratic nation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT CIVICMIRROR.COM.
FOR THE COMPLETE CIVIC MIRROR EVENT SUMMARY, CLICK HERE .
Reflection & Connection
This video shows a class discussion that took place after the students completed their final Reflection and Connection assignment. The students were asked to think about all that they experienced throughout the simulation, and then connect the major ‘lessons-learned’ to their own lives, the real world, and the course content. The whole process generated some outstanding revelations (as the video illustrates).
We highly recommend teachers budget time for culminating Reflection & Connection activities like this one. They bring closure to The Civic Mirror experience, they bring participants together, and they help students share and crystallize some of the important lessons they learned along the way. And, should you be wondering, the Instructors Manual and the online repository of Civic Mirror teaching ideas have some great Reflection & Connection activity ideas that you can pick and choose from.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS CIVIC MIRROR VIDEO TUTORIAL?
Please leave them below and join the discussion!
ARE YOU WONDERING WHAT THE CIVIC MIRROR IS?
Basically it’s a government and economics simulation that turns classrooms into countries and students into citizens. Far more than just a game, The Civic Mirror is a fully comprehensive civic education program that turns the old rules of teaching and learning on their head. Students actively assume real-world citizenship roles – both in the classroom and online – and work as individuals to provide for imaginary families and achieve hidden agendas, while working together to build a strong, democratic nation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT CIVICMIRROR.COM.
FOR THE COMPLETE CIVIC MIRROR EVENT SUMMARY, CLICK HERE .
