Developed in partnership between the Lou Frey Institute at the University of Central Florida and IllinoisCivics.org, the Guardians of Democracy Program is an online professional development program with extended learning opportunities for interested 6-12 educators. Our goal is to support a national professional development program and establish a network of certified educators across disciplines that embrace the proven practices of civic education to equip young people for college, career, and civic life success.
This course is inspired by the landmark report, Guardian of Democracy: The Civic Mission of Schools published by The Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania and the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools. This report outlines six proven practices of civic education.
Our Courses
Hear from the experts. See it in action. Build your toolkit. Engage your students.
Current & Controversial Issue Discussion Strategies
Guardians of Democracy Teachers Current and Controversial Issues Discussion Course highlighted in new book, Making Classroom Discussions Work, edited by Dr. Jane Lo. The chapter, written by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University and Illinois Civics Hub, discusses the effectiveness of the course in preparing teachers to hold current and controversial issue discussions with their students. To learn more about the book, click here.
Course Evaluations
The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) released its evaluation of the Guardians of Democracy online courses. To read about their key findings and takeaways, click the button below.
This course focuses on understanding the purpose, role, and function of discussion strategies as pedagogical tools to equip young people with the knowledge, dispositions, and skills to be “Guardians of Democracy”. Further, this course will enhance the practice of educators with strategies and resources to create a classroom climate in which there are equitable opportunities for ALL students to engage in dialogue about essential questions across the curriculum.
Guardians of Democracy Bronze Certified Educator in Current and Controversial Issue Discussions Badge recognizes the successful completion of all Current and Controversial Issue Discussions course modules. This includes the completion of required assignments, portfolio entries and satisfactory performance on the discussions. Participants create a Portfolio of Practice throughout the course in which they reflect on how the course content can enhance their own practice. Participants use their portfolio to create a plan of action to implement one strategy to support current and controversial issue discussions in the summative performance task.
The Guardians of Democracy Silver Distinguished Educator in Current and Controversial Issue Discussions Badge recognizes the successful completion of extension work to demonstrate competency in teaching two of the discussion strategies included in the Current and Controversial Issue Discussions course. This badge certifies that a recipient can successfully create, edit and implement a lesson plan and student assessment. This badge also certifies that a participant engaged in an instructional coaching cycle and reflective practice.
The Guardians of Democracy Gold Guardian Educator in Current and Controversial Issue Discussions Badge recognizes the successful completion of advanced extension work demonstrating competency in teaching all three discussion strategies included in the Current and Controversial Issues Discussions course. This badge certifies that a recipient can successfully create, edit and implement a lesson plan and student assessment. This badge also certifies that a participant engaged in reflective practice and in instructional coaching as a coach and trainee.
The C.A.P.E.S page serves as a supplemental resource to personalize your learning. Free materials are linked for your consideration to support the implementation of current and controversial issue discussions.
This course focuses on understanding simulations of democratic processes and how this pedagogical practice can equip young people with the knowledge, dispositions, and skills to be “Guardians of Democracy”. Further, this course will enhance the practice of educators with strategies and resources to facilitate simulations with appropriate topic selection, content integrated throughout and reflective practice.
The Guardians of Democracy Bronze Certified Educator in Simulations of Democratic Processes Badge recognizes the successful completion of all Simulations of Democratic Processes course modules. This includes the completion of required assignments, portfolio entries and satisfactory performance on the discussions. Participants create a Portfolio of Practice throughout the course in which they reflect on how the course content can enhance their own practice. Participants use their portfolio to create a plan of action to implement one strategy to support simulations of democratic processes in the summative performance task.
The Guardians of Democracy Silver Distinguished Educator in Simulations of Democratic Processes Badge recognizes the successful completion of extension work in a second course to demonstrate competency in teaching two of the strategies included in the Simulations of Democratic Processes course. This badge certifies that a recipient can successfully create, edit and implement a lesson plan and facilitate student reflection on the process. This badge also certifies that a participant engaged in an instructional coaching cycle and reflective practice.
The Guardians of Democracy Gold Guardian Educator in Simulations of Democratic Processes Badge recognizes the successful completion of advanced extension work in a final course demonstrating competency in teaching all three strategies included in the Simulations of Democratic Processes course. This badge certifies that a recipient can successfully create, edit and implement a lesson plan and facilitate student reflection on the process. It further certifies successful engagement in collaborative practices through peer-to-peer mentorship and facilitator coaching of the lesson planning process.
The C.A.P.E.S page serves as a supplemental resource to personalize your learning. Free materials are linked for your consideration to support the implementation of current and controversial issue discussions.
This course focuses on understanding informed action through service learning and how this pedagogical practice can equip young people with the knowledge, dispositions, and skills to be “Guardians of Democracy”. Further, this course will enhance the practice of educators with strategies and resources to support student-centered informed action, empowering students to take the L.E.A.D.
The Guardians of Democracy Bronze Certified Educator in Informed Action Through Service Learning Badge recognizes the successful completion of all Informed Action through Service Learning course modules. This includes the completion of required assignments, portfolio entries and satisfactory performance in the discussions. Participants create a Portfolio of Practice and throughout the course they reflect on how the course content can enhance their own practice. Participants use their portfolio to create a plan of action to facilitate student-centered informed action through service learning in the summative performance task.
The Guardians of Democracy Silver Distinguished Educator in Informed Action through Service Learning Badge recognizes the successful completion of extension work in a second course to demonstrate competency in facilitating Informed Action through Service Learning course. This badge certifies that a recipient can successfully create, edit and implement a lesson plan and engage students in reflection. This badge also certifies that a participant engaged in an instructional coaching cycle and reflective practice.
The Guardians of Democracy Gold Guardian Educator in Informed Action through Service Learning Badge recognizes the successful completion of advanced extension work in a final course demonstrating competency in engaging student voice to facilitate informed action through service learning. This badge certifies that a recipient can successfully create, edit and implement a lesson plan and reflect on student success. It further certifies successful engagement in collaborative practices through peer-to-peer mentorship and facilitator coaching of the lesson planning process.
The C.A.P.E.S page serves as a supplemental resource to personalize your learning. Free materials are linked for your consideration to support the implementation of current and controversial issue discussions.
This course focuses on understanding the purpose, role, and function of using inquiry as the primary mode of learning to equip young people with the knowledge, dispositions, and skills to be “Guardians of Democracy.” Further, this course will enhance educators' practice with strategies and resources to create a classroom climate with equitable opportunities for ALL students to prepare for civic life.
The Guardians of Democracy Bronze Certified Educator in Constitutional Democracy as Content and Practice Badge recognizes the successful completion of all course modules. This includes completing required assignments, portfolio entries, and satisfactory performance in the discussions. Participants create a Portfolio of Practice throughout the course in which they reflect on how the course content can enhance their own practice. Participants curate materials from the Educating for American Democracy Educator Resources to create a plan of action in their portfolio addressing a state standard related to classroom instruction on constitutional democracy in the summative performance task.
The Guardians of Democracy Silver Distinguished Educator in Constitutional Democracy as Content and Practice Badge recognizes the successful completion of advanced extension work in a final course demonstrating competency in creating a unit plan aligned with best practices in the Classroom Instruction on Constitutional Democracy as Content and Practice course. This badge certifies that a recipient can successfully create, edit and implement a series of lessons in the unit plan and facilitate student reflection on the process. It further certifies successful engagement in collaborative practices through peer-to- peer mentorship and facilitator coaching of the unit planning process.
The Guardians of Democracy Gold Guardian Educator in Constitutional Democracy as Content and Practice Badge recognizes the successful completion of advanced extension work demonstrating competency in teaching Constitutional Democracy as content and practice course. This badge certifies that a recipient can successfully create, edit and implement civic instruction incorporating reflective practice and student feedback. It further certifies successful engagement in collaborative practices through peer-to-peer mentorship and facilitator coaching of the lesson planning process.
The C.A.P.E.S page serves as a supplemental resource to personalize your learning. Free materials are linked for your consideration to support the implementation of classroom instruction on constitutional democracy.
