Date of Presentation
4-2014
Name of Conference
American Educational Research Association
Date of Conference
4-2014
Location of Conference
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Document Type
Conference Presentation
Department
School of Education, Leadership, and Public Service
Abstract
Research on campaign simulations usually involves long-term collegiate activities. Our research adapted materials from the American Association of University Women and Running Start’s “Elect Her–Campus Women Win” college workshops to create a short-term campaign simulation for use in high school social studies classrooms. Sixty-six students in three high school Advanced Placement US Government classes engaged in a two-day communications-focused elections simulation workshop. Differences in civic engagement knowledge between pre- and post-surveys reached statistical significance. Students’ qualitative responses revealed gains in understanding of the role of student government in allocating money, low-cost advertising, and use of “surrogates” to disseminate campaign positions. Improvement in students’ elevator speeches was particularly impressive. Results indicate simulations of short duration can be effective in influencing students’ knowledge of civic engagement when the knowledge is actively used in the simulation exercise.
Recommended Citation
Tillotson, T., & Puncochar, J. (2014). Short duration campaign simulation increases high school students' civic engagement skills and knowledge. Roundtable presentation at the American Educational Research Association’s 2014 Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
Included in
Educational Methods Commons, Models and Methods Commons, Secondary Education and Teaching Commons