This document discusses demonstrating relevance in an American government classroom. It emphasizes relating course material to current events, pop culture, and students' lives outside the classroom. The document defines relevance in terms of student demographics like age, region, diversity, interests, and religion. It also discusses assessing the "personality" of the class and utilizing classroom technology and applications, as well as keeping materials fresh by relating concepts to timely examples and popular culture.

2. Demonstrating Relevance
in American Government
Classroom
Derek Mosley, J.D.

3.  Applicable
 Demonstrates course subject matter
o Relating things to the course
o Not entertaining for the sake of entertainment
 Beneficial to the student outside of the classroom
o Provide information that is helpful in life – not just academics
 Contemporary Examples
 Current events
 Pop culture
 Interesting
 Compelling
 Humorous
 Authentic
Defining Relevance

4.  Age
 Traditional
 Non-traditional
 Region
 Egocentrism
 Diversity in the classroom, nation, and world
 Analysis of class composition
 Utilizing the resources of the class
o Students learning from each others’ experiences
o Instructor enrichment
 Religion
 Often correlates to region
 Affects time spent on sides to an argument
 Interests
 Rarely government
The Audience- The Personality of the Class

5. Poll – What is your biggest fear in adding
technology in the classroom?
 Student distraction
 Learning the technology as an instructor
 Increased cost to student
 Increased cost to college/university
 Other
Technology

6.  Television
 Remains important for information, opinion, and popular culture
 Internet
 Almost a given in day-to-day life
 Untapped potential in many classrooms
o Campus-wide Wi-Fi
o Access through cellular networks
 Personal Devices
 Phones, tablets, laptops, Google Glass, etc…
 Policies on these items may need to be revisited
Technology - Hardware

7. Poll – Which is your favorite technology/
application to use in the classroom?
 Ebook
 Presentation application
 Social media
 LMS
 Homework technology
 Other
Technology - Continued

8.  EBooks
 Presentation
 PowerPoint
 Prezi
 Social Media
 Facebook
 Twitter
 Instagram
 LMS
 Traditional access
 Mobile and personal devices
 Aplia
Technology - Applications

9. Poll – How many are currently using a
homework technology, such as Aplia?
Technology – Homework

10.  Current Events
 Appropriate, timely examples of concepts (updating the old standards when
necessary)
o Presidential elections provide new opportunities to compare/contrast
 Government in action (relating the event to the concept)
 Boston Marathon Bombing
o Terrorism
o Emergency Response
o Jurisdiction
Local law enforcement, FBI, Homeland Defense
Keeping it Fresh

11.  Popular Culture
 You are too old to quote “Jersey Shore”
 What is “Jersey Shore?”
 Sincerity
 Don’t force it – sometimes “dating” yourself can help
 Develop and redevelop your style
Keeping it Fresh - Continued

12. Questions?