Paula McAvoy

Aug 11, 2021

The Wall Street Journal: Civics Education in Schools Gains Steam

Associate Professor of Social Studies Education Paula McAvoy says political polarization will likely make it hard for schools to adopt the Educating for American Democracy Initiative's recommendations.

Jul 27, 2021

Political Discussions Focused on Consensus More Comfortable, Less Divisive for Students

A study led by Associate Professor Paula McAvoy, Ph.D., found more U.S. high school students felt respected in a political discussion designed as a deliberation.

Jan 12, 2021

The Conversation: How Should Schools Teach Kids About What Happened at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6? We Asked 6 Education Experts

NC State College of Education Assistant Professor Paula McAvoy, Ph.D., discusses how social studies teachers can help students understand the events that took place at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and remain informed moving forward. 

Nov 10, 2020

Harvard EdCast: Teaching Across a Political Divide

Paula McAvoy, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the NC State College of Education, has long focused her work on helping educators teach young people how to live together in this world. Educators can use the recent presidential election as a tool. In this episode of the EdCast, McAvoy discusses how to make the most of your "political" classroom.

Nov 4, 2020

TIME: ‘You Can’t Be Silent.’ Schools Brace for the Presidential Election Aftermath

Assistant Professor Paula McAvoy, Ph.D., shares insights on the importance of holding political discussions in the classroom. 

Oct 22, 2020

Strategies Can Help Teach Students to Discuss Politics

NC State Assistant Professors Paula McAvoy, Ph.D., and Christy Byrd, Ph.D., hold “Dinner with Democracy” to help students productively discuss political differences.

Oct 14, 2020

Ethics and Education: “Just Teacher” with Lauren Gatti and Paula McAvoy

Assistant Professor Paula McAvoy, Ph.D., joins her co-author, Lauren Gatti, of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, on a podcast to talk about their book project, Just Teacher: Ethical Thinking in the Profession of Teaching.

Oct 8, 2020

Dinner with Democracy Event to Engage Community in Discussion Across Differences, Provide Professional Development for Educators

With the 2020 presidential election rapidly approaching and COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit the ways people can interact face-to-face, opportunities to engage in meaningful and productive discussions about political issues have become more scarce. Assistant Professors Paula McAvoy, Ph.D., and Christy Byrd, Ph.D., are hoping to address this through the virtual Dinner with Democracy event on Oct. 21, 2020.

Apr 6, 2020

Assistant Professor Paula McAvoy Suggests ‘Podcasts for a Pandemic’ to Help Educators Explain Concepts, Events Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Assistant Professor Paula McAvoy, Ph.D., who researches how teachers should bring controversial issues into the classroom, has been using podcasts as course texts for quite some time. Now, she is recommending several podcasts that high school teachers could use to help students understand concepts and events related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Jan 27, 2020

Grant-funded Project Will Allow Assistant Professor Paula McAvoy To Help Teachers Engage Students in Productive Classroom Discussions

Assistant Professor Paula McAvoy, Ph.D., is helping teachers bring discussion into their classrooms and measuring the impact the use of discussion strategies has on students’ views and understanding through a new grant-funded project.