Citizenship

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer provides a description of the current problems facing young people today as they seek to achieve full participation in the political community and also looks at why many of them lack the education to do so. To this end, a review of the scholarly and peer-reviewed literature provides a relevant background and overview. Further, the writer provides an analysis of the changes that have taken place in recent years in education and a discussion of the need for alternative civics education approaches. A summary of the research and salient findings are provided in the conclusion.

Outline:
Introduction
Importance of Study
Purpose of the Study
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Changes in Study Population and Their Implications
The Need for Alternative Civics Educational Curricula
Conclusion and Recommendations

From the Paper:

"The need to educate the next generation of voters (and taxpayers) concerning the responsibilities and benefits of citizenship has assumed increasing importance in recent years. According to Beckerman, Kim and Parks, an increasing number of high school students in the U.S. lack a sound understanding of American civics and studies have shown that a majority of these students do not have any depth of understanding of this important subject and what it means to be a citizen. For instance, while almost all high school seniors possessed a rudimentary knowledge of civics in terms of elections, laws, and constitutional rights, only about half of them understood specific government structures and functions. The trends that have been emerging in recent years are even more alarming, and only 6 percent of the high school seniors surveyed by Beckerman and his colleagues had any type of knowledge and understanding of governmental institutions such as the cabinet or the judiciary."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Beckerman, Marvin, Simon Kim and B. Sue Parks. (1996). "Effects of Participatory Learning Programs in Middle And High School Civic Education," Social Studies, 87:171.
• Black's Law Dictionary. St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Co., 1990.
• Freeman, L. A. (2003). "Simulation and Role Playing with LEGO Blocks. Journal of Information Systems Education, 14(2):137-144.
• Godwin-Jones, Robert. (2005). "Emerging Technologies: Messaging, Gaming, Peer-to-Peer Sharing Language Learning Strategies & Tools for the Millennial Generation. Language, Learning & Technology, 9(1):17.
• Hannafin, Robert D. and Kathleen K. McDonald. (2003). "Using Web-Based Computer Games to Meet the Demands of Today's High-Stakes Testing: A Mixed Method Inquiry." Journal of Research on Technology in Education 35(4):459.

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