The objective of ESD is to make people think differently about lifestyles as well as economic and political structures, to raise awareness for complex problems, to sharpen political judgment and to empower people to act. A means to achieve these objectives is to engage students in action-oriented learning. The ESD courses aimed at implementing…

This article discusses a collaborative effort between political science faculty members and a research librarian, designed to determine whether structured library interventions with students over the course of a semester yield improvement in students' information literacy skills. Using the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher…

This work aims to advance on the systematization of teaching experiences in the formulation of evaluation activities, mediated by ICT, for academic and professional training in the field of Political Science. It explores the usefulness of student podcasting as a didactic strategy for theoretical-active learning in digital university environments…

At the dawn of the 21st century--when your author, who is now an educator, was in college--the United States was the sole global superpower. But the world changed with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as well as other events that remade the world in which current students now study. As an educator, I can explain that the structure of…

Adaptive learning (AL) courseware holds promise for helping break down challenges students face in college. In 2016-2017 we developed an AL Political Science course, Global Issues, implemented it across 51 classes and more than 5,200 students over the next two academic years, and initiated a study to assess student perceptions and performance. In…

Although we may not always know how best to approach sensitive issues in the classroom, our responsibilities to our students are fairly straightforward. By enrolling in our classes, students essentially sign a contract. They will read, we will provide expertise, all will discuss, and all will learn, at least in theory. In this politically charged…

This paper discusses the significance of passions in political education through the consideration of Chantal Mouffe's agonistic democracy. Mouffe points out the role of the passions that facilitate organizing political identities, and presents the risks of eliminating passions. The liberal interpretation of democracy intends to eliminate passions…

Information literacy, the concept most associated with inculcating the attributes necessary to behave in a strategic, thoughtful and ethical manner in the face of a superfluity of information, has been part of the information specialist scene for many years. As the United Kingdom's QAA benchmark statements for Politics and International Relations…

New cohorts of students expect universities to meaningfully incorporate the use of technology-enhanced learning within their provision and they respond particularly well to an active approach to learning. One response has been for colleagues to make use of audience-response systems. The existing literature suggests that the use of these platforms…

Literature on simulation games stresses both the need for objective assessment of pedagogical effectiveness and the concern that such assessment may not be happening because it is too difficult. This article speaks to both points by presenting an approach to objectively assess the effectiveness of a simulation called the Human Rights Foreign…

Many core graduate-level seminars claim to expose students to their discipline's "canon." The contents of this canon, however, can and do differ across departments and instructors. This project employs a survey of core American politics PhD seminar syllabi at highly ranked universities to construct a systematic account of the American…

There is a growing movement in academia that focuses on increased efforts at undergraduate research. Historically, this movement has been driven by faculty in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and has only recently become a focus for social sciences in general and political science in particular. For students to…

This article discusses two interview assignments used in a class on political representation. Instructor observations, as well as student-provided survey data, indicate the assignment was a successful learning tool. Students who provided feedback on the assignment reported high levels of enjoyment and learning. Moreover, students reported higher…

For decades, scholars have argued that civic education practices, such as debates on controversial issues, have the capacity to enhance civic outcomes, including political knowledge, attentiveness, and interest. This study bridges the literature on political science education and political behavior by employing an experimental approach to assess…

The aim of this article is to explore the characteristics of the new model of PhD programs (using the case of SPSU) and to test the following hypothesis: the new model of PhD programs in Saint-Petersburg State University (SPSU) is relevant and useful for innovative development and knowledge economy formation. The hypothesis was tested according to…