Enlightened Political Engagement Deep in the Heart of Texas: Teaching for Democracy and Developing Digital Documentaries

Abstract

We describe our work in teaching for democracy through the creation and implementation of a technology-infused assignment for use in elementary social studies methods, the “Digital Documentary: Election Portfolio.” During the 2004 presidential election season, we asked our students to participate in the process as citizens and preservice teachers, considering the role that a teacher can play in the political socialization of students. As our students created an election portfolio through the collection of artifacts, responded by journaling about these artifacts, and created a documentary using iMovie, we considered how this project affected enlightened political engagement, media literacy, and the development of students' voices and participation in the political process. This article describes our thinking about the process and what we came to understand about this project through our collaboration.