Encouraging Civic Knowledge and Engagement: Exploring Current Events Through a Psychological Lens

Abstract

Engagement with political, social and civil issues is a fundamental component of an educated population but civic knowledge and engagement are decreasing among adolescents and young adults. A Psychology in Current Events class sought to increase this engagement and key skills such as critical thinking. A pre-posttest comparison found that the class significantly increased students’ civic engagement, civic knowledge, multicultural sensitivity, applied thinking skills, as well as skills such as their ability to consider alternative viewpoints, appreciate diversity, monitor current events and think critically.

Keywords

• civic engagement
• civic education
• current events
• critical thinking
• psychology.