"Active learning" strategies--peer instruction, simulations, hands-on activities, and the like--improve student performance and engagement. However, instructors often struggle to incorporate these techniques into their courses. Doing so can be especially difficult in large lecture courses, where the number of students makes activities…

Social studies teachers are tasked with aiding their students' abilities to engage in public debate and make politically sound decisions. One way the authors have found to help facilitate this is to draw connections between content knowledge and current political conversations through the use of clips from "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." While…

Role-playing activities and simulations have been popular teaching tools in political science courses for many years. One area where simulations and role-playing activities have been used extensively is constitutional law. These projects can range from a short judicial decision-making scenario to a full-semester Supreme Court simulation involving…

One of the greatest challenges we face as political scientists is to teach undergraduates how to think comparatively. This article proposes a number of practical, easily adaptable exercises that many of us can incorporate in our teaching to turn curious undergraduates into smart social scientists who think comparatively about the world.

Studies show that metaphors are a useful way to help people understand new or difficult concepts. The research is largely silent, however, when it comes to the question of whether it is beneficial to ask students to go "beyond transference" by engaging in metaphoric critique and construction. This paper explores how critique and construction…

This article proposes a new role-playing exercise for public law courses: a mock-trial simulation using the European inquisitorial system of trial procedure. By exposing students to an alternative method of conducting a trial, numerous pedagogical benefits can be obtained, including stimulating critical thinking regarding the potential…

Describes an upper-level seminar dealing with political economy theory applied to Asia. Requirements include a short paper, a comparative article review, an in-class presentation, and a term paper. Provides a brief review of these activities and a syllabus for a 15 week course. (KO)

Describes a simulation for an introductory American government course. It was based on the Panama Canal treaties ratification process, a decision pending in the Senate which was due to culminate before the end of the course. By keying the simulation to a real event, participants obtained real-world feedback on how closely their roles approximated…

Discusses the "Exercise in Hard Choices," a simulation published by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), that requires students to make decisions on some of the most significant and controversial budget options facing the U.S. Congress and president. Reports on the simulation's classroom success, stating that it…

Describes a semester long simulation of Supreme Court procedures. Recommends this activity for generating an understanding of the decision making process and the impact of the Justices' personal values and attitudes upon Supreme Court decisions. Notes that the course engages students in the learning process while encouraging the acquisition of…

Suggests activities for teaching students about the law. Asks students to identify situations where they think laws are needed, reach consensus about the 10 most important national laws, and consider the problems of writing laws that everyone can understand. Presents results of law education. Includes a bibliography about promoting citizenship.…

Techniques involving role playing, role changing, and role perceiving are presented as possibilities in achieving greater student involvement in the educational process. International relations is the subject model used. (MB)

Reviews the recent history of South Africa and the dismantling of the apartheid system. Describes growing political and economic participation of Black Africans in South Africa. Includes suggestions for using this information in social studies classes. (CFR)

A discussion of the use of video tape presentations in political science courses to bring realism to the study of political institutions without resorting to the "politicians in residence" method. Indicates that the cost of creating these teaching materials is high but that they do offer potential as useful supplements to the more traditional…

Describes a classroom simulation game for public administration courses to help students develop knowledge of the governmental decision-making process. The game increases knowledge of planning, budgeting, strategies for achieving organizational goals, and leadership skills. (Author/AV)