Inspiring Future Voters: Challenge-Based Learning in Action

  Our Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) project on voter registration brought real-world civics into the classroom, allowing students to dive deeply into the election process and understand the importance of voting. Through hands-on activities and collaboration, students became leaders in promoting civic engagement in our community.

In our project, students first explored the election process through interactive sketchnotes, focusing on why voting matters. They used Apple Freeform to research voter registration trends and analyze local voting statistics, presenting their findings with impactful visuals and data-driven insights through Freeform and Numbers. This groundwork provided a meaningful foundation, preparing them to create and share their work with the school community.

 

Sketchnotes talking about voter registration.
Student skethcnotes on the importance of voter registration.
 
Sketchnotes on the importance of voting.
More sketchnotes on the importance of voting and voter registration.
 
Freeform board photo showcasing voter turnout demographics.
Class Freeform boards showing student research on demographics of voter turnout.
 
Photo of Freeform board showing demographics and voter turnout.
Another classes Freeform board presentation on voter turnout statistics.

With iPads and Canva, students designed eye-catching social media posts to promote our voter registration event. These were shared across our high school and district’s social media platforms. Using Apple Maps, students created a guide to our county’s polling locations and generated QR codes for easy access, a resource requested by the county voter registration office, which will feature it on their website!

 

Media Post created by student for our Voter Registration Night.
Media Post created by student for our Voter Registration Night.
 
Media Post created by student for our Voter Registration Night.
Media Post created by student for our Voter Registration Night.

 

Media Post created by student for our Voter Registration Night.
Media Post created by student for our Voter Registration Night.
 
A flyer that has QR codes, that link to our local counties polling locations as a guide in Maps.
Student created flyer that links to Apple Map Guides and Google MapTours they built to help voters find directions to their polling places.
 
Apple Maps photo showing some polling locations in Perry County, PA.
A view of our Apple Maps guide with polling locations and directions.

For the event, students handled all communications, inviting our state legislator, political party committee representatives, and officials from the voter registration office, all of whom attended. Our students led every aspect of the evening—setting up displays with Freeform boards, presenting informative commercials they crafted in iMovie, and sharing their own voter turnout research.

 

Photo of two people at table. One is a PA State Rep. The other is his secretary.
State Rep Perry Stambaugh and his secretary meet with constituents and also explain the PA Legislative process.

 

Students at table presenting on tv to a community member.
Students presenting to the community their findings on voter turnout.
 
People standing in a large lobby engaged in discussing, and registering to vote.
Community came out to register and to learn more about the candidates and the students content.

The event was a huge success, with people registering to vote, learning about candidates, and meeting local government officials. Students gained confidence and excitement, sharing that they loved the real-world application of their work. You can download the file below to hear their reflections!

 

Student Memojis with audio icons beside them. The words Voter Registration Night, CBL Student Reflection.
Hear students reflection on the process by clicking and downloading the keynote file at the bottom of the post.

To read more about this impactful night, check out the full article [Here].

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2 replies

October 28, 2024

Very impressive Terrance! Congrats to your students for their civic participation. And congrats to you for the engaging Challenge Based Learning approach which made the experience “real” and significant for both the students and your community.

October 29, 2024

This is such a great project. The former government teacher in me is proud to know you.

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