Classtimes
Class-time will be coordinated
Course Type
Description
Students will focus on hands-on approaches using political science principles to improve voting in their local communities, including working directly with local officials. Students will investigate the evolution of elections in our representative democracy and the current reality. Students will also learn how various entities such as the media and money influence our election processes and results. Finally, students will research topics that present factors affecting participation in elections, such as campaign finance and disenfranchisement. This course will be a Project-Based Learning Action Unit that follows the Advanced Placement WE Service Curriculum from the College Board.
State Standards
Government Grade 11/12 Elective
T.4-Interest Groups/Political Parties and Voting
- Use a variety of sources, including newspapers and digital sources, to identify a current local, state or national public policy issue and evaluate the influence on the legislative process of political parties, interest groups, grass roots organizations, lobbyists, public opinion, media, and individual voters.
- With other students, identify a significant public policy issue in the community, gather information about that issue, fairly evaluate the various points of view and competing interests, discuss policy options as a group and seek to arrive at a consensus or compromise agreement, examine ways of participating in the decision-making process about the issue, and draft one or more position papers, oral or multimedia presentations on how the issue may be resolved.
Supports Available to Students
Tier 1 and Tier 2 (Supports provided to ALL students and to targeted SMALLER groups of students)
- SAVVAS platform for inquiry through Government (pilot)
- Project Based Learning Gold Standards through PBLWorks
Skills-learned
- Survey Skills
- Interviewing & Observational Data
- Policy Making
About Dr. Bruce Pontbriand
Dr. Pontbriand (known to TechBoston Academy students as “Dr. P”) has been teaching Civics and Government at TBA since 2005. Dr. P’s classes have been involved in active civic and government engagement including working on “tiny” designing homes in Dorchester with seniors and elementary students at the Holmes Elementary School, Green Architecture Design with AutoDesk, and government advocacy with City Councilor Andrea’ Campbell’s office. Dr. P lives in Randolph, MA, and is very active in community affairs in his town.