Turn Students Into Podcasters and Teach the Fundamentals of Democracy at the Same Time

Presented by Tristin Koch, Social Studies Teacher, North Arvada Middle School (CO); and Rachel Roberson, Senior Program Manager, Education Content, KQED

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If you’re looking for a way to reignite middle and high school students’ interest in democracy, all while tapping their love of podcasts and media, this edWebinar is for you! Join favorite presenter Rachel Roberson from KQED Education for the introduction of a new civic media unit, created by social studies teachers in partnership with KQED. Then hear from social studies teacher Tristin Koch, who piloted the unit with her eighth graders in the fall. She’ll share how thematic study of Constitution principles and historic case studies, combined with a podcasting project, helped students build their civic voices and connect the nation’s founding documents to their own lives and experiences.

Attendees will explore the extensive resources available in the new, free Podcasting Democracy: Understanding the Constitution to Inspire Civic Change curriculum and will listen to student-created podcast examples. Rachel will also preview the extensive lineup of free curriculum resources available, including daily lesson slides, formative checkpoints, and graphic organizers. When you teach this unit, your students will connect their voices to the proud American tradition of civic advocacy. And yes, their skills in historical thinking and media literacy will get a boost as well.

This edWebinar will be of interest to middle and high school teachers, librarians, school leaders, district leaders, education technology leaders, and curriculum directors.

Tristin Koch teaches middle school in Jefferson County Schools, where she continues to serve as an educator in a Title 1 school, North Arvada Middle School. For the past two decades, she has focused on research-based literacy practices in the social sciences. Currently, she is teaching Western Hemisphere Studies, Eastern Hemisphere Studies, and Early American History. She is a Fulbright Scholar, Barringer Fellow, and Gilder Lehrman Grant recipient, and continues to embrace new opportunities to grow. In addition to piloting the KQED Podcasting Democracy middle school unit, Tristin has contributed to the success of the iCivics Educating for America Democracy by piloting, reviewing, and mentoring inquiry-based learning to teachers around the country. When time allows, Tristin is either volunteering in her community, traveling abroad, or spending time with family.

Rachel Roberson is an experienced teacher leader and curriculum content developer who has served as a classroom teacher and administrator at public, charter, and international schools. Rachel specializes in professional learning facilitation and curriculum development, strategy, and implementation. At KQED, she works to connect educators and students to KQED online education sites, KQED Teach and the Youth Media Challenge, by creating