1. Malia Crouse Regis University January 22, 2009
Democracy Lab: Online Student Collaboration through Dialogue and Deliberation
Malia Crouse
Regis University
January 22, 2009
Copyright Malia Crouse, This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.

2. Democracy Lab in a Nutshell
10 week online course
Integrated into an existing course
Students learn and practice dialogue and deliberation skills
Students work with their peers from different universities and across disciplines
Course built around current issues
Trained facilitators assigned to each section
$30 per student fee: cheaper than a text book!

3. Benefits of Democracy Lab…
Outside Classroom Walls
DL participants connect with other university students from across the nation through online forums and discussions.
Students are split into sections with their peers from at least one other university and within multiple areas of study.

4. Cross-Cultural Connections
Geographic diversity reaches alternative perspectives and engages critical thinking.
DL creates a safe space where students feel comfortable sharing personal experiences and acknowledging biases and stereotypes.
Students not only reflect on their own assumptions, but learn from the view points and life experiences of their peers.

5. Current Events Incorporated
Issues range from topics of race and ethnicity to health care, from the role of the media to government policies.
Racial and Ethnic Tensions: What Should We Do?
By the People: Americans’ Role in the World
The New Challenge of American Immigration
News, Media and Society: How to Restore the Public’s Trust?

6. Provides Simple Course Integration
Professors can integrate Democracy Lab into their curriculums in multiple ways:
focusing on the specific issue
concentrating on the process of group work and collaboration

7. How DL Works… www.teachingdemocracyonline.org
Each student has individual login information
Students are assigned to a section of no more than 15 students

8. Weekly Flow and Course Overview
Identifies week’s assignments and expectations
Facilitator’s comments and place for feedback
Required readings or “Lessons” for the week
Questions for the students to answer and reflect on, based on Lessons and course issue

9. Dialogue and Deliberation take place within the “Question” forums
Students read the assigned question and post their thoughts
Students read what other’s have posted and reply using dialogue skills such as inquiry and advocacy

10. At the start of a new discussion, students are able to reply directly to each other
Or reply to the “parent” post to address the initial student’s idea

11. Student Feedback
“I learned more than just about the current course issue. I learned how to communicate effectively without debating, and I learned to listen to other peoples’ views and beliefs even if I did not agree with them.  That is something I learned from Democracy Lab and it is something that I will be able to benefit from in the future.”
-DL Student, Fall ‘08

12. Professor Feedback
“Democracy Lab is a powerful tool that enables students to deeply connect to one another through dialogue and conversation. The course is significant in its ability to teach students not only how to listen to one another, but also how to learn from each other; skills that are more powerful coming from their peers than any lecture I could ever give.”
-DL Professor, Fall ’07

13. Democracy Lab Coordinator
Contact:
Malia Crouse
Democracy Lab Coordinator
Visit us online at