There are few annual events that tie the nation together as Americans: the Superbowl, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and… the State of the Union address. And yet, even though the address is a chance to reflect on the place of America in the world and the state of America at home, that reflection is often done in isolation without various perspectives on the state of the nation. OSG AP US Government teacher (and face-to-face teacher at Oregon Episcopal School) Mike Gwaltney wanted to change that.
Mike wanted to help the girls understand how students in different parts of the country could react to and think about the address differently, so he held a live chat, via Skype directly following the address. Mike said of the experience, ”A live chat after the State of the Union address offered us the opportunity to see the unique power of online learning – namely, the ability to connect students who might not otherwise engage in conversation. For girls who will live in a complex global world, joining peers from around the country in discussion of national issues means we’re building better citizens. What more could we want from education?”
