Session 1: How to Participate in this Self-Paced Workshop
Guiding Questions for this Session:
- How do I participate in this self-paced online workshop?
- What is expected of me as a participant?
- What can I expect as a participant?
What are "civic choices"? What are the responsibilities of a "global citizen"? What challenges do they face?
Choosing to Participate is a multifaceted educational and civic initiative that encourages young people and adults around the world to think deeply about the importance of participating in a democratic society. The Choosing to Participate initiative focuses on civic choices—the decisions people make about themselves and others in their community, nation, and world. The choices people make, both large and small, may not seem important at the time, but little by little they shape us as individuals and responsible global citizens.
This self-paced workshop for educators introduces you to the stories presented in our website, Choosing to Participate. The workshop is a companion piece for using Choosing to Participate in your classroom. Our hope is that you will feel confident to bring the stories back to your students so that they think critically about their roles and the importance of choosing to participate in their communities and in the world at large.
What is a "self-paced" workshop?
Since this may be a new format for many participants, we want to make sure expectations are as clear as possible before you begin. "Self-paced" means just that: You can work at your own pace. Unlike online webinars or courses, you might not be proceeding through the self-paced workshop on a specific schedule and with a specific group of participants (please note that certain groups of participants may, in fact, be taking the workshop in a more prescriptive and scheduled manner). The time it takes for you to complete all activities and review all the content is entirely up to you. Facilitators will be on hand to monitor the message boards and to assess successful completion (see STEP 3, below).
Ways to take this self-paced workshop:
Whether you are simply "browsing" the information in this workshop, or are taking this workshop with the intention of receiving a certificate of completion, you will want to go through the five main sections in the order they are presented:
- How to Participate in this Self-Paced Workshop
- Background on Choosing to Participate
- Exploring Choosing to Participate
- Using the Resource Book in the Classroom
- Connections, Feedback and Next Steps
Within each of these sessions you will find guiding questions, activities, readings, journal activities, and opportunities to contribute your ideas to online message boards. As you review the content and activities, keep in mind that we are modeling material and strategies that might be used or adapted for the classroom. You can navigate to the sessions either from the homepage, or the "workshop sessions" dropdown menu on the navigation bar at the top of every page.
How long will it take to complete the workshop?
Between exploring Choosing to Participate, thoughtfully completing journal reflections, participating in message board discussions, and viewing additional resources, we estimate that it will take approximately eight hours to complete the workshop.
"Certificate of Completion" (PDPs or CEUs)
Those participants who fulfill the requirements of this self-paced workshop (see step 3, below) will be issued a certificate of completion indicating eight hours of effort. Please note that if you are trying to receive professional development points (PDPs) or continuing education units (CEUs) from your school/district, you are responsible for presenting the certificate and working with your school/district to receive the credit. Facing History does not issue PDPs or CEUs, only the certificate, itself. If any additional documentation is required, please let us know and we'll try to help.
Please make sure you have checked the "mark as read" box at the top of this page. Then continue to the next page, Getting Started!