This webinar was part of a series for NSW secondary teachers examining some of the most pressing civic, political and social issues in 2026.
Political polarisation is reshaping politics in the United States and it is increasingly evident in Australian public life. In this session, we examined what is driving polarisation, why it has intensified, and how it is changing elections and everyday civic debate.
Teachers were also introduced to practical strategies for addressing polarised issues in the classroom — helping students engage thoughtfully and explore different perspectives.
What can teachers take straight into lessons?
- An “issue‑mapping” template that separates values (what people care about), interests (who benefits), and facts (what is true) before students debate solutions.
- A structured discussion routine students complete before responding: clarify the claim, test the evidence, name the trade‑off.
- A polarisation‑safe classroom activity: students position themselves along a spectrum line in response to a statement, then interview someone on the other side using agreed question stems such as:
- “What would change your mind?”
- “What evidence would you trust?”
- “What’s the strongest argument for your view?”
Speakers
Associate Professor David Smith
Associate Professor in American Politics and Foreign PolicyUnited States Studies Centre (jointly appointed with the School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Sydney)
Bruce Wolpe
Non-Resident Senior FellowUnited States Studies Centre
Mari Koeck
Director of Engagement and ImpactUnited States Studies CentreMore webinars for teachers
Register now for this webinar on Tuesday, 11 August. Learn about the cultural and political pushback against expert knowledge, and how the idea that “everyone has access to knowledge”, through Wikipedia, Google, ChatGPT, and more, can both empower and mislead.
Register now for this webinar on Tuesday, 8 September. Teachers will learn practical ways to teach privacy as a real-world HSIE issue, not just an online safety lesson.
Register now for this webinar on Thursday, 5 November. Get a clear, teacher-friendly briefing on what the midterms are, what is emerging from the results, and what to watch for next.
The event was delivered by the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, a NESA-recognised professional development provider, and was supported by the Australian National University’s National Security College.
