Civics and Citizenship: What's going well?

Recorded on: 3 June 2026

*Opinions expressed in these webinars are those of the webinar presenter and participants involved and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Australian Government.

 

This free webinar will feature a panel of expert Civics and Citizenship teachers exploring strategies and approaches that make Civics and Citizenship come alive for their students. Presented in partnership between Social Education Victoria and Education Services Australia.

Facilitated by Laura Newman, Social Education Victoria.

Panellists:

  • Chris Ardi, Learning Specialist - Student Voice and Agency, Beaumaris Secondary College

  • David Walker - Learning Leader Humanities, Emmanuel College

  • Tasch Ogilvie - Kardinia International College

Use the content on this page to think about what and how you and your faculty are teaching in terms of Civics and Citizenship.

You can watch the 45-minute webinar or watch short clips from the webinar that are topic-based.

Go to: Snapshot 1  |  Snapshot 2  |  Snapshot 3  |  Snapshot 4  |  Snapshot 5

Useful Resources

  • Contemporary issues in Civics and Citizenship
    This free resource comprises six professional learning modules, including pre-readings, group activities, discussion questions and prompts, that explore research and teaching strategies to make it easier for teachers to effectively use contemporary issues in the classroom.
  • The Political Classroom: Evidence and Ethics in Democratic Education
    In this book, Diana E. Hess and Paula McAvoy argue that teachers will make better professional judgments about how to introduce political issues if they aim toward creating "political classrooms," which engage students in questions that ask: "How should we live together?"
  • Parliamentary Role Play
    How to prepare a self-scripted role play.
  • Better the devil you know: What role should teachers play in questioning, class discussion and debate?
    This article provides examples of how, depending on circumstance and the needs of the class,  a teacher might adopt the role of facilitator, neutral judge, committed participant (either personal or in role) or devil’s advocate.
  • 7 ways to teach civil discourse to students
    Some tips from an American teacher of Civics.

 

Snapshot 1

What engages students at different year levels?

This video clip features David Walker, Head of Humanities at Emmanuel College.

Reflection questions

  • What strategies are used to engage students in Years 9 and 10 in Civics and Citizenship education at Emmanuel College?
  • What strategies are used to engage students in Years 7 and 8 in Civics and Citizenship education at Emmanuel College?
  • How is it similar and different to what happens at your school?

 

Snapshot 2

What if we only have one term for CCE content each year?

This video clip features David Walker of Emmanuel College; Chris Ardi of Beaumaris Secondary College; and Tasch Ogilvie, Kardinia International College.

Reflection questions

  • What types of activities provide multiple exposure to content? What do you already use? What could you do more of?
  • Chris Ardi suggests shifting the emphasis at Year 8. What content would you prioritise at Year 8 level?
  • With one term only, look at what your school focuses on? Which content descriptors are most engaging for your students?

 

Snapshot 3

How do I cater for a class with very patchy CCE knowledge?

This video clip features David Walker of Emmanuel College and Chris Ardi of Beaumaris Secondary College responding to a common problem; students may have patchy CCE knowledge and are disengaged from some elements of CCE such as the structure of our democracy etc.

Reflection questions

  • Both speakers use the key principles of democracy as the springboard for content. How does your school’s approach to content compare with this approach?
  • Both recommend using a case studies approach to engage students – What case studies do you use? What could you use?

 

Snapshot 4

Disagreeing agreeably: how do we manage controversial topics?

This video clip features David Walker of Emmanuel College; Tasch Ogilvie, Kardinia International College and Laura Newman from Social Education Victoria.

Reflection questions

 

Snapshot 5

Embodied pedagogy

This video clip features David Walker of Emmanuel College; Tasch Ogilvie, Kardinia International College and Laura Newman from Social Education Victoria.

Embodied pedagogy in civics teaches democratic values through physical, emotional, and sensory experiences. It is utilises activities such as role-playing (students act as a mayor, a citizen, or a business owner debating a local issue); spatial voting (students move to different corners of the room based on whether they strongly agree or disagree with a civic issue) or community mapping (students walk around an area identifying issues).

Reflection questions

  • What types of embodied pedagogy-based activities are suggested in this video?
  • One of the speakers references the use of data to evaluate the degree of student learning. What data do you currently use to think about how you deliver the content of the CCE program? What could you use?
  • What part of your program could be boosted through a one or more embodied pedagogy-based activities?