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TRANSCRIPT
The Civic Mirror
civicmirror.com
WHAT IS CIVIC MIRROR?
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The Civic Mirror
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Civic Mirror Overview
Each student becomes a citizen who must provide for a
The Civic Mirror
civicmirror.com
Civic Mirror Overview
But …
Because there are not enough goods and services to go around, conflict arises as citizens compete to provide for their families.
The Civic Mirror
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Civic Mirror Overview
Every Civic Mirror country is a 36-Hex Map!
There exists both an economy & a natural environment.
A class of students lives in ONE country, and …
The actions of one affect all!
The Civic Mirror
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Civic Mirror Overview
The hex map serves as a “civic mirror.”
As students progress through the simulation, their hex map evolves to reflect their collective struggles, political debate, and individual ups & downs.
Each hex simulates something unique about society.
The Civic Mirror
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Civic Mirror Overview
A QUICK RECAP
Everyone lives in the same 36-hex country
There are Wilderness, Business, & Residence hexes
Everyone has a fictitious family that they need to provide for …
The Civic Mirror
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Civic Mirror Overview
A QUICK RECAP (cont’d)
Students who own hexes operate them as they like
And due to economic scarcities built into the game, some Families will suffer more than others
So ….
The Civic Mirror
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Civic Mirror Overview
Because everyone is affected by the decisions of the hex owners, conflict arises as citizens debate over how the owners should manage their property and assets.
The Civic Mirror
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Civic Mirror Overview
And to prevent their country from slipping into a CHAOTIC MESS, students must somehow
GOVERN themselves!
The Civic Mirror
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Civic Mirror Overview
So participants (students) are left to their own devices to provide for their fictitious families,
This creates ‘player stakes.’ These stakes motivate players to participate in the political, civic, and judicial events that occur in the classroom.
The Civic Mirror
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Civic Mirror Overview
Each participant is given a political, economic, and/or ideological
Hidden Agenda.
These agendas give you goals in the game in order to attain Status Points
NOTE: Agendas on the website may have differences from your physical agenda
The Civic Mirror
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Civic Mirror Overview
The whole scenario begs the participants to govern themselves and institute law and order.
They immediately begin asking questions like…
o “Can he do that to me?”
o “Would I get in trouble if …?”
o “Why doesn’t somebody stop her? Or at least say something!?”
o “Would I score points if taxes were raised?”
The Civic Mirror
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Civic Mirror Overview
Now that we understand how the scenario works and how it generates interest, let’s learn how it sets up classroom events that simulate the U.S. and/or Canadian system of government, law, and economics.
The Civic Mirror is played in rounds, called “Years.” And every country starts in the Year 2000.
Every Year is made up of 4 in-class events, called “Seasons.”
And instructors decide how many “Seasons” are played.
The Civic Mirror
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Civic Mirror Overview
Simulated House of Commons
WINTER
Season 1 in the Canadian Module
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Evaluation
• There will be many points throughout the game where you will be asked to reflect on the activities in class
• These reflections will be collected and made into a portfolio which will be evaluated at the end of the course
• You will also be doing a self assessment at the end of the game based upon:1. Status Point Accumulation2. Game Participation and Effort3. Initiative4. Applying Class Content to the Game
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Student Feedback
• Students prefer learning using Civic Mirror– More interesting to get to learn through hands on
experience– More fun, easier to learn complex ideas– Made class exciting and intense!– Get to live through making laws and the court system
and you live through the consequences of decisions made
• Students feel they have a better grasp of what it means to be an engaged citizen
• Students are much more informed and will want to participate in their civic rights and duties
The Civic Mirror
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Advice From Students
• READ THE MANUAL!!!!!!• listen and participate, voice your opinion and things
will happen• Be sure to talk to your teacher if you are confused• Get involved! If you put in effort you will be
rewarded• Treat it like a real thing, it works better if you put a
lot of effort in• Take on extra roles, you will understand how the
Canadian government works better• Be happy you are not doing bookwork• Buy a hex that can make you money• Pay attention to new legislation being passed
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Student Manual
• What next?• Be prepared! Read over the student manual
– You will be better prepared when the game begins– There will be reading checks worth $ in the game– You can take advantage of those who don’t know what’s
happening!
• On Civic Mirror Main Page (after login)• Manual Changes:
– The Good – Instead of 4 E/I to build or tear down a hex, it will only take 3! The change will happen immediately.
– The Bad – The amount of E/I produced in a year will decrease by 1 after year 2
The Civic Mirror
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What Next?
• Now…. We need to continue on with the course so know how our country works, and therefore Civic Mirror
• What we learn in class will help you understand the different seasons in Civic Mirror
• Reading the rules summary page• There will be a trial run of the hex trading day
MONDAY!– Money and hexes will be assigned randomly– Students will get a feel for how to trade units and provide for
their family– Login information will be distributed– Nothing transfers over to the real game so you will not be
punished for any mistakes made