Teaching Political Science Research Articles

Informationization Construction of Civic Education in Colleges Based on Big Data Technology

Abstract This paper explores the application of big data technology in daily civic education in colleges, and visualizes the data with heterogeneous systems, on which the result is based to design the education evaluation data model. Calculating the total evaluation value of the teachers in the field of Civics and Political Science, combining with the sector area ratio division algorithm to realize the uniform display of scientific research achievements in the field of Civics and Political Science, and completing the construction of the knowledge model of Civics and Political Science education in colleges with above procedures. The appropriate learning path of Civics informatization for the learners is projected with the ant colony algorithm, which is based on the adaptive test ability value of the learners generated from item response theory. The construction of civic education information in colleges is done using big data technology. The results show that after a period of learning in the mode of informatization of Civic and Political Education, the mean value of the students in the experimental class scores 10 points higher than that of the control class learning. Overall students are more agreeable to the role of informatization of Civic and Political Education in colleges and the construction of informatization of Civic and Political Education in colleges has achieved good results.

Challenges and Opportunities of Civic Education in Colleges and Universities in Digital Environment

Abstract Civic education in colleges and universities plays a pivotal role in fostering students’ national identity and civic responsibilities. Enhanced by digital learning environments, it promises to cultivate exemplary citizens more effectively. This paper details the development of a MOOC interactive communication platform utilizing the open-source edX framework, which serves to enhance civic education. It delves into optimizing resource storage technologies on the platform. It introduces an innovative assignment mutual evaluation algorithm tailored for Civics and Political Science education, which accounts for rater bias and scoring patterns. The newly implemented resource storage and mutual assessment algorithms have notably improved the functionality of the civic education platform. Performance metrics from the platform indicate an encouraging trend in student achievement across three courses, with average scores of 78.32, 79.24, and 83.27, respectively, showcasing a consistent upward trajectory. Further analysis reveals a converging trend in the variance of data distribution, indicating a reduction in disparities in student learning outcomes as evidenced by a decrease in standard deviation values. Comprehensively, students’ overall test scores have shown significant improvement. Notably, mastery of subject matter knowledge saw an increase from 2.3% to 21.4%, and the pass rate escalated from 92.6% to 98.3%. Although there were initial discrepancies in the cognitive rating of civic education values between the experimental and control groups, the experimental group exhibited substantial gains, underscoring the efficacy of the platform and its methodologies.

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Intelligent Computing Modeling Application Environment for Sustainable Integration with Civic Education in Colleges and Universities

Abstract Incorporating the concept of environmentally sustainable development into the Civics program in colleges and universities is an important initiative to promote the service of environmental sustainability by the Freshmen. Innovative teaching mode of ecological sustainability and civic education, and the deep integration of green development concept and civic education are crucial to cultivating high-quality talents with environmental sustainability. In this paper, the collected data were standardized and defuzzified, and the CRITIC combination assignment method was used to assign weights to the indicators to obtain the optimal combination weights. Based on this, the indicator data’s gray correlation coefficient and correlation degree were calculated to construct the effect assessment model. The evaluation content for integrating the cultivation of the concept of environmental sustainability and ideological education is proposed in the paper, and the effect evaluation of this was implemented for 11 years. The evaluation results show that in the three classes of college A in the pilot area, the integration of the concept of environmental sustainability and Civic and Political education of college students was significantly improved, and the mean values of the measured improvement were 4.96, 5.05, and 4.95, respectively, which showed a better effect. Among the dimension scores, the mean value of the scores of the three classes in the five dimensions is 3.624.This result indicates that the cultivation of the concept of environmental sustainability has a significant enhancement effect on the performance of Civic and Political Education, and the integration of the two is having a significant impact. The study in this paper incorporates the concept of environmental sustainability into the ideology and political science curriculum of colleges and universities is an effective strategy that not only enhances students’ environmental awareness, but also strengthens the effectiveness of ideology and political science education.

The Construction and Application of the Effectiveness and Dynamic Teaching Evaluation Model of Big Civic and Political Science Courses

Abstract How to make the teaching quality of the Civics and Political Science class continuously improve, the teaching effectiveness is highlighted in the growth of students, and the comprehensive development of students is effectively promoted, which has become an important part of the educational evaluation reform of the Civics and Political Science class in colleges and universities. Based on the construction concept of the objectivity evaluation index system, this paper determines the evaluation index system of the effect and dynamic teaching of the big Civic and Political Science class. It adopts expert knowledge to pre-process the research data. According to the judgment affiliation degree and weight set, determine the single-factor evaluation matrix of evaluation indexes, calculate the weight value of evaluation indexes, and then complete the construction of a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model oriented to the effect of big Civic and Political Science teaching and dynamic teaching and based on the data analysis software, carry out the comprehensive evaluation and analysis. The results show that the size of the weight value of the first-level indexes in order of magnitude, dynamic teaching process A2 (0.5478) > teaching preparation A1 (0.2353) > big Civics effect A3 (0.2169), indicating that the weight accounted for by the dynamic teaching and teaching preparation is relatively large and there is a not-so-small gap between the weight value of the big Civics effect A3, so the teaching of big Civics courses should focus on teaching preparation and dynamic teaching. This study can not only enrich the teacher’s Civics teaching method, but also improve the students’ Civics level, which has a promoting effect on promoting the development of the teaching of Big Civics courses in colleges and universities.

Integration of Red Cultural Resources into the Teaching of Civics in College Curriculum Based on VR Modeling

Abstract The broadening of the teaching field and the innovation of the teaching form of the Civics course in colleges and universities are important links in the teaching reform of the Civics course. This paper relies on the reality support of red cultural resources integrated into the teaching of civic politics class of VR technology, selects the influencing factors to build a structural equation model, carries out correlation analysis and the measurement of model path coefficients, and mines the factors affecting the integration of red cultural resources into the teaching, of course, civic politics. On this basis, we explore the practical path of integrating red resources into the teaching of Civics courses in colleges and universities based on the VR model and combine the descriptive statistical analysis and multiple regression analysis to explore the effectiveness of integrating red cultural resources into the teaching of Civics based on the VR model in four dimensions. Learning motivation, self-efficacy, difficulty expectation, classroom environment, group influence, curriculum design, facilitation, and teaching ability all significantly affected the integration of red resources into Civics and Political Science teaching (P < 0.05). Based on the VR model, the red cultural resources have a better effect of integrating into the teaching of ideology and politics, and the scores of all dimensions are more than 4, among which the score of emotional identity is the highest, 4.566. The use of VR technology is an inevitable trend of education modernization, and colleges and universities should apply it to enrich and expand the content of “curriculum ideology and politics” and to promote the construction of information technology and teaching reform of the ideology and politics in colleges and universities. The modernization of education is inevitable due to the use of VR technology.

Learning Goals in Simulations

Abstract Why do scholar–teachers use simulations? This study presents an analysis of simulation goals in peer-reviewed simulations published over the past 20 years. The scholarship of teaching and learning emphasizes that educational goals are an essential first step in designing simulations. The flexibility of simulation designs allows the formulation of a variety of content-based, skill-based, and emotion-based goals. However, which of these goals are more prevalent in published simulations of political science and international relations? Is there a change in the stated simulation objectives over time? And do scholar–teachers outline simulation goals in the first place? This study answers these questions by collecting and analyzing data on the stated simulation objectives in a random sample of eighty-seven simulations published in the Journal of Political Science Education (2005–2021), International Studies Perspectives (2000–2021), and PS: Political Science and Politics (2000–2021). The key finding is that the simulation community is doing well and, over time, is making progress in outlining and diversifying the intended learning outcomes of simulations. What is still needed, however, is a greater recognition of the emotional impacts of simulations and their potential to advance not only student substantive knowledge but also their skills and emotional experiences, with all three in the same simulation design.

Teaching the Russian War on Ukraine

In this article I discuss an approach to teaching about the Russian war in Ukraine that uses the war as a focal point for teaching about topics in comparative politics and international relations. I discuss the pedagogical advantages for political science teaching, including meeting the interests of students, introducing students to theories in political science, and re-centering courses on the region away from Russia. I then discuss how the various political science topics and research questions are related to the war, and I conclude with a section on assignments and methods for student engagement that work well with this type of course.

Application of Project-based Learning Model Based on GBDT Model in Higher Vocational Civics Classes at the Time of Innovation

Abstract In this paper, the TR graph is constructed by combining the advantages of the tree diagram and Nightingale’s rose diagram, followed by the use of the LR+GBDT fusion model for predicting students’ performance. For the shortcomings of the K-prototypes algorithm in the application of educational data, an improved K-prototypes algorithm for student group division and feature labeling, and finally, user portrait as a pivot will be the fusion of the three to solve the problem of multi-chart linkage and the integration of charts constructed the student portrait, assisting teachers to make scientific decisions to develop personalized learning strategies. Through the integration of social resources and the curriculum content of the ideological and political discipline, a project-based learning model is established to realize the goal of cultivating students’ core qualities in the discipline of the ideological and political discipline. After the project-based learning mode, the difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of the experimental class’ ideological and political character was −6.83, p=0.000<0.001, the difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of cultural literacy was −7.12, p=0.000<0.001, and the difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of the value concept dimension was −3.54, p=0.027<0.05. There was a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of the three dimensions, and there was a significant difference in the pre-test and post-test scores of all three dimensions. Scores between the pre-and post-tests were significantly different. Therefore, the application of project-based learning in the teaching of Civics and Political Science plays an important role in promoting.

Simulated negotiations as a teaching tool in the ESP classroom

Abstract Courses of English for Specific Purposes are offered by many universities, yet the potential these courses have to enhance learning in the students´ field of study is sometimes neglected. This article describes one effective method, focusing on the use of simulated negotiations as a teaching tool in the ESP course for political scientists. Simulated negotiations have been used in teaching of political science, international relations, diplomacy and related fields for many years but so far, their use outside political science courses has not been described. Relying on personal experience, we not only outline the steps needed to run a successful simulation in the ESP classroom, but also look at the benefits simulated negotiations bring both within and outside the ESP course. Participant feedback shows that apart from developing English language proficiency, simulated negotiations in ESP classes also enhance the students´ understanding of topics and issues from the field of political science. Another perceived benefit is the development and cultivation of transferrable / soft skills. Closer cooperation between language centres and individual university departments may lead to such modifications of the ESP syllabus that will complement both the ESP course and specialised courses from the students´ field of study.

Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate: Pedagogical Innovation to Enhance Attainment, Engagement, Satisfaction and Employability in Political Science

This paper introduces a new pedagogic approach to the teaching of political science. In engineering education, the Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate (CDIO) pedagogy provides an active, experiential learning experience, structuring learning around four key phases in product development. Applied to the undergraduate Politics and International Relations (IR) classroom, this pedagogical innovation in learning, teaching and assessment is adapted to policy development. This design-build-test pedagogical approach has been highly successful in engineering education, supporting students to be “industry-ready engineers” on graduation. Results across 3 cohorts suggest that this pedagogical innovation is also highly successful when transferred to Politics and IR, supporting political science students develop “society-ready” attitudes, attributes and skills, greatly enhancing the student experience and increasing their attainment, engagement, inclusion and wider graduate outcomes. Civic engagement and the ability to understand and respond to a range of stakeholders are also improved. This paper presents the pedagogy and the module to which it was applied as a case study, before highlighting opportunities for political science educators to transfer the pedagogy to their own teaching context.

A Pedagogical Exploration of Horror as a Teaching Tool for Ethics Using the Case of Saw IV

Our case study of Saw IV examines the possibility of using horror as a genre, a vehicle for teaching ethics, and its use in street-level bureaucrat (SLB) decision-making. Specifically, this film highlights the inherent violence of the police state, which illuminates the limits of ethical decision-making in constrained contexts. We propose using horror as a film genre to teach students about the complexity of personal, interpersonal, and professional ethics, bureaucratic discretion, and the impact of these decisions in real-world situations. We provide a brief analysis of the film through the lens of ethical dilemmas in a violent police state and the impact of this violence on governance. We conclude with recommendations for using Saw IV and horror more broadly as pedagogical tools in public administration and political science education.

The development of digital model of college Civics teaching combined with information diffusion model

Abstract In this paper, the information sphere radiation model describes the diffusion process of information in cyberspace. In real space, the information ring radiation model represents how information diffuses through interpersonal transmission in social circles. Secondly, the degree distribution of nodes in the network is described by the spatial topology’s degree distribution function and how information diffusion in the network is constructed. Finally, the model’s effectiveness is verified through the simulation of the total number of nodes function Q(t) for the diffusion of information in Civic and Political Science teaching. The mean diffusion degree is around 1.2 according to the results when teachers and students are the main interactors. In the case of student-content interaction and hybrid interaction, the mean value of diffusion is around 2.3. In the exercise session, however, the student-student diffusion degree reached 3. Through the information diffusion model, this paper facilitates the development of a digital model for college Civics teaching.

Research on the path of integrating Yan’an spirit into the ideological and political education of contemporary college students based on NDK-means algorithm

Abstract In this paper, the ideological and political education path is designed according to the spirit of Yan’an. In order to verify the feasibility of the path, as well as to make the student evaluation more effective and objective, the article combines the K-means algorithm and proposes a K-means algorithm based on neighborhood spatial density optimization (NDK-means). The algorithm assists in solving the problem of grading the reliability of student assessment and realizes the labeling of student assessment reliability data. Then, based on the student assessment reliability characteristics and data labeling results, a BP neural network prediction algorithm (CSA-BP) based on crow search improvement is proposed to model the student assessment reliability. The results show that the percentages of freshmen to seniors who are satisfied with the Civic Education proposed in this paper are 85.9%, 82.26%, 76.75%, and 72.45%, respectively, in terms of grade level. Students from urban, rural, and rural areas, in terms of their place of origin, all feel satisfied with the current teaching of Civics and Political Science at 80% or more.

Exploring the Innovation Practice of Teaching Civics Education in Universities in the Network Era

Abstract One of the key difficulties confronting universities today is how to use the current technology to raise educational standards and support educational reform. This is due to the ongoing growth of network technology. This study primarily explores the collaborative filtering recommendation algorithm-based recommendation model for college civics teaching materials. Analyzed are both the functional and non-functional demands for collegiate civic and political science teaching materials. For these requirements, the collaborative filtering recommendation algorithm is put out, and it is enhanced so that it may be applied in real-world settings. In order to execute the model, the system architecture and process are established, and the impacts of teaching interventions are used to examine the outcomes of the suggested practical teaching of civic and political science teaching materials in colleges and universities. The findings revealed that the p-values of the significance probabilities were, respectively, 0.056, 0.007, and 0.235 for the entrance exam and the first semester final examination, the entrance examination and the second semester final examination, and the first semester final examination and the second semester final examination. The collaborative filtering recommendation algorithm-based recommendation model for teaching resources recommendation of university thinking and politics proposed in this paper is effective in enhancing students’ learning autonomy and promoting the exchange of ideas. It has a certain effect.

Research on the innovative development model of ideological and political education based on big data and self-media environment

Abstract This paper aims to explore the innovative development model of ideological and political education. By establishing a Civic and Political Science teaching platform, two functions of classroom interaction and online dual-teacher interaction are designed under nine ideological and political teaching modules. The VR technology and system framework are analyzed, and the corresponding MDP algorithm is constructed. The algorithm model was used to analyze the percentage of students’ favorite Civics classrooms and the acceptance level of VR teaching classrooms. The result data show that only 27.5% of students like Civics class, 51.53% of students maintain a neutral attitude towards Civics class again emotionally, and 16.36% of students do not like Civics class. 70.1% of students prefer the means of communication of Internet platform tools. 16.58% of students prefer the means of communication of newspapers and magazines, 50.2% of students prefer the means of video communication, and 35.26% of students prefer the means of video communication. 35.26% of students prefer book communication. This paper provides reference data and models for the development of ideological and political education innovation.

Attitudes of Political Science Instructors at Jordanian Universities towards Activating Political Involvement: An Analytical Study

Objectives: The study aimed at recognizing trends of political science professors at the Jordanian universities towards the activation of political participation and recognizing the impacts of variables: (social type, age, social status academic rank, monthly income, and the university).
 Methods: To meet study goals, a descriptive survey method was utilized, employing a questionnaire with two sections: one on demographic traits and the other on political science professors' perspectives regarding political participation activation in Jordanian universities. The sample included (83) professors—(59) male and (23) female—from various public and private universities.
 Results: These findings address the study's questions and validate its hypotheses. Key outcomes include: fostering trust between the populace and ruling elite, ensuring peaceful power succession through fair elections, guaranteeing public freedoms, and respecting human rights as major political trends. In terms of economics, notable trends include enhancing citizens' quality of life, safeguarding the national economy, creating job opportunities, and curbing unemployment. Social priorities involve protecting the family structure, promoting diverse opinions, and combating crime and drug proliferation. Cultural and educational highlights comprise elevating education standards, reducing nepotism, favoritism, and enhancing the role of educational institutions.
 Conclusions: The study submitted several recommendations aiming at activating political participation, the most important of which are: laying dialogue programs about activating political participation to grant space for alighting discussion to increase political awareness level for the significance of political participation and reviewing rules and legislations that hinder this participation.

Quantitative Political Science Education in the Past and Future

There has been a massive shift in teaching quantitative political research since the Journal of Political Science Education was launched in 2004. Smartphones were an anomaly, and it was uncommon to have laptops in the classroom. Statistical calculations were sometimes done by “statisticians”, i.e., professional staff who did calculations for faculty members. Today, it is rare to see students without electronics. Through that transition we experienced ubiquitous Wi-Fi and smartphones, statistical computing on personal computers, the end of the academic staff statistician, an explosion in open-source statistical software and tutorials, and an unexpected mass transition to online learning during COVID. We experienced a similar revolution in teaching statistics. Increases in computational power and data availability make quantitative and qualitative research different than 20 years ago. Computation is rarely a limiting factor, and we find ourselves spending more time on statistical assumptions, correct methods, data integrity, and replicability. We are now entering an era of assistive technology and will need to transition to teaching students how to use artificial intelligence tools to assist them with quantitative work. In this article, we consider these changes and what they mean for teaching political science in the next 20 years.

Using OERs to Close Inequity Gaps in Political Science

Beginning in July 2021, Political Science instructors at Pellissippi State Community College began the process of transitioning from commercially published textbooks to Open Educational Resources (OERs) in its introductory courses. The project is part of a statewide initiative led by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) to increase equity in access to quality, no/low-cost educational materials. The overarching goal is to increase success rates and improve educational outcomes for traditionally underserved students, such as but not limited to students of color, first-generation college students, and economically disadvantaged students. Pellissippi State has traditionally been the largest community college in the state of Tennessee and its enrollment population is made of both traditional and non-traditional students from every race and socio-economic income level. However, data collected prior to this transition has revealed lower completion and retention rates among minorities. A research team at Pellissippi State Community College was awarded two separate grants by TBR to conduct these transitions. This presentation will consist of two parts. The first part summarizes the process of transitioning the Introduction to American Government course to an OER textbook created by OpenStax, along with adopting and creating additional open access materials during the 2021-2022 academic year. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed from a total of 14 sections of the course to determine the impact of the transition. The second part will chronicle ongoing efforts of an inter-departmental team – consisting of faculty from Political Science, Media Technologies and Web Design, and Librarian Services – to create an Open Access Publication for the Introduction to Political Science course. Although this project will be in process during the conference, a summary of the work to date will be provided.

Diversified Integration of Civics Teaching Resources in Universities Based on Discrete Regression Model

Abstract Diversified integration, rationalized allocation and high-efficiency utilization of various practical teaching resources are the prerequisite and foundation for realizing the goal of monolithic education of Civic and Political Science teaching. This paper proposes a local two-way adaptive degree function of a complex network of Civic and Political Science teaching resources cluster and constructs a discrete regression-based resource diversification integration model based on the adaptive degree function by considering the characteristics of a complex network of Civic and Political Science teaching resources cluster with local worldliness (cluster structure), complexity, incomplete and asymmetric information obtained. The research results show that the discrete regression model Cronbach’s α coefficient value is 0.903, and the cumulative explained variance reaches 81.69%, which can effectively and highly fit the integration of diverse resources of Civics teaching. And compared with the traditional BA integration model, the discrete regression model increases the integration speed by 36.21% and the breadth by 41.39%. The discrete regression-based resource diversification integration model proposed in this paper effectively improves the level of practical teaching of Civics in colleges and universities and provides some reference and help for related researchers.

Symposium on the Contemporary Politics of the United Kingdom: Introduction and Reflections

Although my evidence is anecdotal and impressionistic, my sense is that political science teaching, research, and careers are less likely to involve UK politics and the Special Relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.