Terrence C. Mason, Ph.D.
Director, Center for Social Studies and International Education,
and
Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
IU School of Education
Center for Social Studies and
International Education
 Our primary mission is to improve education in
the social studies (history, geography, economics,
civics, anthropology, and the social sciences) in
elementary and secondary schools.
 A secondary mission is to meet the professional
development needs of the international
community of educators through in-service
training, content seminars, and curriculum
workshops in all curriculum areas.
CSSIE Current Projects:
 Afghanistan Higher Education Project (USAID)
 Macedonia Primary Education Project (USAID)
 Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Mathematics Teachers
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Summer Workshop
Civitas Educator Exchange Project (U.S. Dept. of Education)
Title VI Area Studies K-12 Outreach
Indonesia New Ideas Project (USAID)
The Inter-American Journal of Education for Democracy
Deliberating in a Democracy Project
Persistent Issues in History Network
Indiana Council for the Social Studies
R. Freeman Butts Institute on Civic Learning and Teacher
Education
Civitas International Civic
Education Exchange Program
 Partnerships are designed to identify the civic education needs in each U.S. state and
international site and develop programs to address those needs in a manner that take
advantage of the experience, expertise, and programmatic offerings of the partners.
Goals:
 Acquaint international educators with exemplary curricular and teacher training
programs in civic education developed in the United States and other participating
nations
 Assist international educators in the creating, adapting, implementing and
institutionalizing effective civic education programs in their own countries
 Create and implement civic education programs for students in the United States that
will help them better understand the history and experiences of emerging democracies
and other advanced democracies
 Facilitate the exchange of ideas and experiences in civic education among educational,
governmental, and private sector leaders in the United States and emerging and
established democracies
 Encourage independent research and evaluation to determine the effects of civic
education on the development of the knowledge, skills, and traits of character that are
essential for the preservation and improvement of constitutional democracy
Project Citizen
We the People: Project Citizen is a
curricular program for middle, secondary,
and post-secondary students, youth
organizations, and adult groups that
promotes competent and responsible
participation in local and state government.
The program helps participants learn how to
monitor and influence public policy. In the
process, they develop support for
democratic values and principles, tolerance,
and feelings of political efficacy.
Project Citizen Steps:
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Identifying public issues
in the community
Selecting a problem for
class study
Gathering information on
the problem
Developing a class
portfolio
Presenting the portfolio
Reflecting on the
experience
Challenges faced in promoting civic
culture abroad
 Democracy is controversial
 Whose democracy?
 Resources
 Knowledge or action?
The Role of
Area Studies
 Familiarize educators
with local traditions,
culture, political and
social norms
 Language training
 Print and media
resources
“The World We Want”
A documentary about
Project Citizen followed by
a discussion with
director/producer
Patrick Davidson
When: Thursday, March 26
7:00 PM
Where: IU Bloomington,
Fine Arts Auditorium 015