EIU History-Teacher Licensure

The landscapes in which social studies is learned and taught are increasing in complexity. With both exponential growth in resources for inquiry and often uninformed critique of what takes place in classrooms, social studies professionals must navigate barriers and recognize opportunities. Needed is dialogue to support and grow the important work of historical, geographic, economic, and civic development of future generations. The theme “Social Studies in Today’s Landscape” encourages conference participants to consider the intersectionality of external processes with the dynamics of a diverse range of social studies learning spaces. Three strands are of specific focus:
1) Doing justice with social studies
2) Cultivating informed and engaged citizens
3) Pedagogy, Best Practices, and Partnerships

The ICSS Spring Conference engages practicing PK-12 social studies teachers, preservice teachers, university faculty, social studies researchers, and concerned citizens. Participants will explore in a variety of topics and sessions that are pertinent to social studies students and teachers in the field across grade levels and social studies content areas.

Our Spring 2023 Conference Keynote Speaker is Dr. Ryan Burge, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Eastern Illinois University. Dr. Burge teaches in a variety of areas, including American institutions, political behavior, and research methods. His research focuses on interactions of religiosity and political behavior.
 
Dr. Burge has published over twenty articles in a number of well regarded peer reviewed journals including Politics & Religion, the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, the Review of Religious Research, the Journal of Religious Leadership, Representation, Politics & Gender, Politics, Groups, and Identities, the Journal of Communication and Religion, the Journal of Religion, Media and Digital Culture and the Social Science Computer Review.
 
Dr. Burge has a recently published book. 20 Myths About Religion and Politics in America, released in March of 2022. Striving to be an impartial referee, Dr. Burge describes with accessible and engaging prose–and illustrate with dozens of clear, helpful graphs–what the data says. Step by step, Dr. Burge debunks twenty myths, using rigorous data analysis and straightforward explanations. He gives readers the resources to adopt an empirical view of the world that can help all of us, religious and nonreligious alike, get past at least some of the unsupported beliefs that divide us.