About CivEcon Learning
Hi! My name is Hollan. I am a current high school social studies teacher, former Political Science Ph.D. student, and creator of CivEcon Learning.
After my doctoral studies, I was working in the private sector when a friend who was the art teacher at a local high school mentioned that the Civics teacher was retiring. I applied and they offered me the position through long term sub/lateral entry, and I have been there ever since.
The first lesson I created was a two-part, 56-slide presentation on the legislative branch (one of my grad school seminars was a class just on the legislative branch). It obviously turned out to be way too much information for a high school civics class, but after a week of watching them play math games on the computer instead of reading the articles I had assigned, they were finally engaged and genuinely interested in the subject.
A colleague suggested adding fill-in-the-blank guided notes, after some initial skepticism, I gave them a try. The difference was immediately noticeable. Those students who had struggled to follow along were suddenly engaged–reading the slides, completing the notes, asking questions and participating. I realized just how much thoughtful instructional design can impact student learning.
When Economics & Personal Finance (EPF) became a graduation requirement, I did it all over again using the state standards and district pacing guides to create an entire content-based curriculum from scratch. Every semester I revise and refine lessons based on student feedback, classroom experience, and new ideas. Over the past five years I have probably spent as much time creating and editing resources as I have in the classroom–possibly more if you count the summer hours!
The name CivEcon comes from my belief that is impossible to understand either Civics (& Government) or Economics without a basic understanding of the other. The goal of CivEcon Learning is to help prepare students for life beyond the classroom by providing accurate, thorough, and engaging resources in the areas of Civics, Government, Economics, and Personal Finance.
I try to design lessons with the realities of today’s classrooms in mind—limited planning time, diverse student needs, and the challenge of making complex topics meaningful and relevant to students. All lessons and activities are developed and refined through actual classroom use and try to strike a balance between academic rigor and practical implementation.
Thank you for visiting CivEcon Learning. I hope you find something that supports your students and your teaching!
— Hollan
CivEcon Learning, Creator
