2019 McConnell Center's Civic Education Program Survey

The McConnell Center's Civic Education Program, established in 2005, conducts educational programs for Kentucky teachers, students, and the general public focused on developing a strong knowledge of American history and fostering creative thinking about citizenship in the 21st century. (If you would like to familiarize yourself with the McConnell Center's current civic education offerings, please see HERE.)

The McConnell Center is in the process of reconsidering its civic education programming so that we can better use our resources to serve you.

This survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Whether or not you have previously engaged in events offered by the McConnell Center's Civic Education Program, please help us shape the future of our programs designed to serve you, your colleagues, and your students. Help us by sharing the survey with other education professionals and colleagues, as we aim to gather a broad understanding of statewide needs in civic education. Your feedback is vital to the mission of the McConnell Center and to civic education in Kentucky, and we thank you for your time.

Question Title

* 1. Please identify the category that best describes you:

High School Teacher

Middle School Teacher

Elementary School Teacher

Administrator

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 2. The subject(s) I primarily teach is/are:

U. S. History

Government

Social Studies

Literature

World History

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 3. How would you describe your familiarity with the McConnell Center's Civic Education Program?

Extremely familiar

Very familiar

Somewhat familiar

Not so familiar

Not at all familiar

Question Title

* 4. The McConnell Center's current Civics Education Program includes the following:

Teacher Scholars Program: A year-long professional development program for up to 30 Kentucky teachers in conjunction with the McConnell Center’s Public Lecture Series, which includes monthly lectures and private discussions with professors and historians.

Weekend or week-long seminars: Immersive seminars focused on discussion of primary source readings on topics related to U.S. history, politics, literature, etc. (locations vary)

Young Leaders Academy: An all-expenses-paid, four-day summer residential program for 25 Kentucky high school students at the University of Louisville on a topic related to United States history, government, politics, and leadership strategies.

Public lectures at the McConnell Center: Monthly lectures open to the public and held at the University of Louisville, led by experts and professors on topics related to U.S. history, politics, literature, etc.

Resources/books for use in classroom: A variety of McConnell Center resources and books are available free of charge to Kentuckians who plan to use them for educational purposes.

Please rate these programs in accordance with your interest as an educator.

	1 - Most important	2	3	4	5 - Least important	N/A
Teacher Scholars Program	Teacher Scholars Program 1 - Most important	Teacher Scholars Program 2	Teacher Scholars Program 3	Teacher Scholars Program 4	Teacher Scholars Program 5 - Least important	Teacher Scholars Program N/A
Weekend or week-long seminars for teachers on a specific topic	Weekend or week-long seminars for teachers on a specific topic 1 - Most important	Weekend or week-long seminars for teachers on a specific topic 2	Weekend or week-long seminars for teachers on a specific topic 3	Weekend or week-long seminars for teachers on a specific topic 4	Weekend or week-long seminars for teachers on a specific topic 5 - Least important	Weekend or week-long seminars for teachers on a specific topic N/A
Young Leaders Academy (for high school students)	Young Leaders Academy (for high school students) 1 - Most important	Young Leaders Academy (for high school students) 2	Young Leaders Academy (for high school students) 3	Young Leaders Academy (for high school students) 4	Young Leaders Academy (for high school students) 5 - Least important	Young Leaders Academy (for high school students) N/A
Public lectures at the McConnell Center	Public lectures at the McConnell Center 1 - Most important	Public lectures at the McConnell Center 2	Public lectures at the McConnell Center 3	Public lectures at the McConnell Center 4	Public lectures at the McConnell Center 5 - Least important	Public lectures at the McConnell Center N/A
Resources/books for use in classroom	Resources/books for use in classroom 1 - Most important	Resources/books for use in classroom 2	Resources/books for use in classroom 3	Resources/books for use in classroom 4	Resources/books for use in classroom 5 - Least important	Resources/books for use in classroom N/A

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 5. How many hours of professional learning/development credit do you need annually?

Question Title

* 6. External to the McConnell Center, what programs/resources do you use most frequently to acquire your professional development credit?

Question Title

* 7. When applying for professional development opportunities, what factors most influence your decision to participate/not participate in a program? Check all that apply.

Convenience of time/location of program

Personal interest in topic

Students' interest in topic

Opportunity to travel

Relevance to school or statewide curriculum standards

Camaraderie/networking

Books and other resources expected

Career benefit

Reputation of institutions' past programs

You will receive college/degree credit

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 8. Have you ever requested teaching resources/books from the McConnell Center for use in your class?

Yes

If yes, please explain what they were, how you have used them, and any feedback that might improve our engagement with teachers and these materials.

Question Title

* 9. Do you listen to/use podcasts?

Yes, I listen to them and use them in my classroom.

Yes, but only for my own personal enjoyment.

No, I don't listen to them or use them in my classroom.

Question Title

* 10. We are considering adding more content guides for classroom use, which may include podcasts, videos, lesson plans, study guides, etc. Would you use such McConnell Center-produced online content in your classes?

Yes

If so, what type of resource would be most helpful to you?

Question Title

* 11. Please choose which best describes your feelings on professional development opportunities:

I only want to apply for programs that will travel out of state.

I will apply for programs that include a state or local travel component.

I would participate in programs without a travel component if the topic is worthwhile.

Question Title

* 12. What travel location (in-state or national) would be most appealing to you as part of a professional development experience? Why?

Question Title

* 13. For Civic Education programs that are more than one day, when would you prefer to have them? Check all that apply.

weekends during the academic year

during school breaks/vacation during the year

during summer months

Question Title

* 14. What type of new McConnell Center Civic Education opportunities would you be most interested in? Check all that apply.

Day or weekend trips with teachers to local/state historical sites

After-school civic enrichment opportunities throughout the year for you and your students

In-school programs/visits from McConnell Center staff and speakers

Web-based content for classroom use

Traveling trunks of civics resources for classroom use

AP U.S. History workshops for teachers

McConnell Center-hosted events on UofL's campus for you to bring your students to

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 15. Do you prefer to attend lecture-style events with little to no preparation necessary, or seminar-style events with related pre-readings?

I prefer to attend lecture-style events with little to no preparation necessary.

I prefer to attend seminar-style events with related pre-readings.

I prefer to attend both styles of events.

Question Title

* 16. Next year, the McConnell Scholars Program will focus their programming around the topic of dystopian literature/society. Would you be interested in participating in a year-long Civic Education program on this topic?

Yes

Question Title

* 17. Would you be interested in participating in a year-long Civic Education program focused on an in-depth study of The Federalist Papers and related constitutional debates?

Yes

Question Title

* 18. In regard to the content of events held throughout the year, do you prefer to participate in events that focus/develop on a unified topic, or do you prefer episodic events on a variety of topics as the year progresses?

I prefer a year-long focus/development on a unified topic.

I prefer to attend episodic events throughout the year on a variety of topics.

I prefer to have the opportunity to participate in both styles of programs.

Why?

Question Title

* 19. What overarching topics would be of interest to you for future use in the McConnell Center Civic Education Program?

U.S. Constitution

Kentucky/Local History

Plato/Classical Philosophy

Utopian/Dystopian Themes

Contemporary U.S. Politics

The Federalist Papers/Founding Debates

Economic Principles

Leadership

Literature

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 20. IF you teach grades K-8: we are considering developing a program designed to increase students' love and enjoyment of reading. Would a literacy initiative, perhaps focused on a young adult novel, be something in which you are interested in participating?

Yes

Why or why not?

Question Title

* 21. Do you have any ideas on how the McConnell Center's Civic Education Program can better directly serve your students?

Question Title

* 22. Do you have any additional ideas on how the McConnell Center's Civic Education Program can better serve you as an educator in Kentucky?

Question Title

* 23. Please provide any overall thoughts, concerns, questions, and comments you would like the McConnell Center staff to consider as we plan the future of our Civic Education Program.

Thank you very much for taking the time to complete this survey. Your feedback will be vitally important as we move forward in our common effort to better educate our young citizens of the Commonwealth.