Informed Engagement: Using Experiential Learning and Case Studies to Empower and Inspire Students
Jointly Run in Partnership with History UnErased
Join this collaborative webinar from the Center for Civic Education and History UnErased to explore how experiential civic learning and case studies can equip students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to advocate for issues they care about. This session features practical tools and lessons from Project Citizen and the primary source-based teaching materials from History UnErased’s Intersections & Connections US History, Civics, and Social Studies supplemental curriculum to help you guide your students in developing and presenting policy proposals and historical insights in public forums.
Program Objectives and Benefits
By the end of the session, participants will:
- Understand how Project Citizen supports civic learning through real-world engagement.
- Explore how Past is Present uses primary sources to foster historical empathy and local relevance.
- Discover classroom-ready tools that blend civic action with historical inquiry.
- Learn how to structure student presentations for community or public audiences.
- Gain access to resources and support from both organizations.
About Us
History UnErased is an educational non-profit organization that provides K-12 educators and schools with the curriculum, training, and ongoing support they need to integrate LGBTQ-inclusive and intersectional US history within mainstream courses. History UnErased’s theory of change is that LGBTQ-inclusive social studies education will improve civic participation and create classrooms, communities, and a country where all Americans are seen as equal citizens.
The Center for Civic Education is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting an enlightened and responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy in the United States and other countries. The Center's programs are designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions they need to be informed and engaged citizens.
Presenters
Deb Fowler
Co-Founder and Firector, History UnErased
Deb Fowler is co-founder and director of History UnErased and a former classroom teacher, having taught for several years in South Korea and over a decade teaching new immigrant and refugee students at a large, urban high school in Massachusetts. Deb’s path to the education profession began with her service in the United States Army as a Korean linguist, before the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. (Her "Fraudulent Entry" discharge story is featured in Vincent Cianni’s award-winning book Gays in the Military).
Kathleen Barker
Program Director, History UnErased
Kathleen Barker is a library and information specialist and public historian with over 20 years of experience as a museum and library educator. She serves as History UnErased’s program director and lead professional learning facilitator. She also develops and hosts the UnErasing LGBTQ History and Identities "Deep Dives and Backstories" podcast episodes. Kathleen also provides training on diversifying classroom collections and school libraries and has co-authored some of History UnErased's thematic units and case studies.
Michael Blauw
Director of Strategic Partnerships and Impact, Center for Civic Education
Michael is a proud alumnus of We the People. The program compelled him to become an educator. He graduated from Hope College as a certified Social Studies teacher and with a BA in Political Science. He then taught English in Malaysia as a Fulbright Scholar (where he met his now wife). Once back in the states, he taught several years of government, AP Government, English, and of course, We the People in his home state of Michigan and Nashville, TN. He then attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education and worked at Harvard’s Center for Ethics, managing programs in educational ethics and civic education. He most recently worked for Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction as an Education Policy Consultant. He and his family live in Madison, Wisconsin, and enjoy hiking, kayaking, fishing, most sports, and obviously cheese curds.
Professional Development
The Center has offered high-quality educator professional development for decades. Today, we provide such opportunities through our partners in several states in addition to organized Center events, self-paced online courses, and special webinars.
