Civics Literacy

Purdue University has developed an educational resource to ensure that all undergraduate students leave the University with foundational civics literacy. The short but comprehensive plan includes multiple educational opportunities for students to complete their civics literacy requirement as well as three exam forms to evaluate their knowledge. The copyrighted materials, including the exams and C-SPAN educational podcast episodes developed by Dr. David Reingold, Dr. Robert Browning, Dr. Jay McCann, Dr. Phillip VanFossen, and Fred Duttlinger, are now available for licensing to other institutions who wish to implement similar programs with their student body. In a world that is more politically divisive than ever and saturated with misinformation, it is essential that all college students gain some level of understanding of the rights and principles upon which the U.S. political system is built. Programs such as this one ensure that is the case for thousands of students at Purdue and can continue to make a difference beyond the Purdue system.

Technology Validation:

This program has been successfully implemented at Purdue University for all undergraduate students who entered in fall 2021 or later, with optional participation for undergraduate students who came to Purdue earlier than that.

Advantages:

-Straightforward program design

-Multiple options for completing the requirement

-Multiple test versions to encourage academic honesty

-Supports youth civics literacy and engagement

-Designed for integration with Brightspace

Applications:

-Universities, colleges, and other institutions that wish to encourage civics literacy among their students with an easy, multi-modal program.

TRL: 9

Intellectual Property:

Keywords: civics, civics literacy, college civics education, Education, educational program