Varieties of Democracy: Different Values of Democracy
Image from Lesekreis, Wikimedia Commons I love this quote from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, when Humpty Dumpty says to Alice: “When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.” Now, the political science research is...
Return to the Isle of Ted: Fishing!
Image from “Return to the Isle of Ted,” PS: Political Science and Politics (July 2020) In my team-taught, interdisciplinary course on climate change, my priority in my political science section was to help my students understand collective action problems—when people...
Card Game: The Prisoner’s Dilemma
Card concept and design by Hessa Al-Ali (2018) for Qatar Museums Climate change is known as a “wicked problem” because it is so complex and difficult to solve! A large part of this complexity is due to collective action problems: when people fail to successfully work...
Authentic Learning through Undergraduate Research
Authentic learning involves students in real-life experiences. My favorite experience was leading a research grant on Qatari women engagement and empowerment.
Teaching: The US Congress
To spice up my lesson about the powers and processes of US Congress, I introduce some friendly competition. Do you have what it takes to win this Kahoot! quiz?
Tell the Right Story: Political Science Solutions to Climate Change
Words have the power to help us solve climate change! Here’s how to use the right language, emphasize our common goals, and embrace our competitive natures.
Structure the Incentives: Political Science Solutions to Climate Change
Government efforts can motivate individuals, communities, and businesses to adjust their behaviors and help solve climate change. Here’s why and how!
Teaching: The News Media
Why are the news media so important to democracy? How do the news media affect politics? What is the impact of personalized media on our democracy?
Make It Local: Political Science Solutions to Climate Change
What if local communities can do a better job of governing themselves and solving their collective climate change issues than large-scale international efforts?
Formative Feedback for Teachers
Formative feedback mechanisms are regular opportunities throughout the course for teachers to get feedback from students on their teaching.