Paula Waatainen
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sosopolitical.bsky.social
Paula Waatainen
@sosopolitical.bsky.social
Socials Studies teacher ed & researcher at Vancouver Island University. EdD Learning Sciences. Designing authentic assessments of competency, civic education, historical thinking, deliberation, and place-based learning. Music fan! BC history nerd!
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I'm happy to introduce a civic education game that is close to my heart, as I'm one of the original designers. Dr. Kirstin Funke-Robinson and I had an assignment to design an educational game in our 2019 doctoral design seminar with Dr. Douglas Clark at the Werklund School @ucalgary.bsky.social 1/
Reposted by Paula Waatainen
First time burmashaver, in support of her teachers and #redforbced
February 5, 2026 at 4:07 AM
First time burmashaver, in support of her teachers and #redforbced
February 5, 2026 at 4:07 AM
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My colleague Michael MacKenzie and I like designing, field testing, redesigning, and testing (etc) games for teaching democracy. This was us cutting and folding and pasting for 45 min today. Then he came back from trying it out and had 4 changes to make. Into recycling you go…. #iterativedesign
February 3, 2026 at 5:04 AM
My colleague Michael MacKenzie and I like designing, field testing, redesigning, and testing (etc) games for teaching democracy. This was us cutting and folding and pasting for 45 min today. Then he came back from trying it out and had 4 changes to make. Into recycling you go…. #iterativedesign
February 3, 2026 at 5:04 AM
Reposted by Paula Waatainen
Not looking to dunk on the poster but… don’t do this. The report is based on a Leger poll using methodology that is transparent in the article, not something made up by the newspaper. You can look at the methodology and critique it, or disagree with voter sentiments but this is just wishcasting
February 1, 2026 at 9:39 PM
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When anyone from SCTV dies it’s like 30 people have died. Every character they created was as alive as anyone else you’ve ever met.
January 31, 2026 at 5:58 PM
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❤️
January 30, 2026 at 7:57 PM
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you should not share a post that's a screenshot without a link to a news item. you should not share a post that's a video or picture without some kind of sourcing. we're in a new bad era and these are now basic practices.

... also photogs and journos gotta eat so share their work.
January 26, 2026 at 3:04 PM
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It would happen no matter what. The US President is basically a Roomba. When he runs into opposition he turns and starts devouring in another direction. Sooner or later he always circles back, though.
January 23, 2026 at 4:36 PM
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A map mystery! Elementary Social Studies Education students making inferences about why this map was made and for what purpose. I learned about this map a few years ago when @benbradleyca.bsky.social shared it online. See link to map via @vanarchives.bsky.social next post.
January 22, 2026 at 10:40 PM
A map mystery! Elementary Social Studies Education students making inferences about why this map was made and for what purpose. I learned about this map a few years ago when @benbradleyca.bsky.social shared it online. See link to map via @vanarchives.bsky.social next post.
January 22, 2026 at 10:40 PM
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This is Dumpling. She got her very first sweater and promptly deactivated. 12/10 (TT: jmw495)
January 15, 2026 at 6:19 PM
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Reflecting on the first week of the new semester teaching Social Studies Methods to future teachers. Somehow I have been doing this for 10 years! I always start the first class - before even looking at the syllabus - with an activity about teaching democracy. This work feels more urgent this year.
January 11, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Reflecting on the first week of the new semester teaching Social Studies Methods to future teachers. Somehow I have been doing this for 10 years! I always start the first class - before even looking at the syllabus - with an activity about teaching democracy. This work feels more urgent this year.
January 11, 2026 at 5:52 PM
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Political cartoonists are not fuckin’ around this week. (thread)

1. Pat Bagley
January 9, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by Paula Waatainen
Don't forget folks: allowing yourself a vision of the future you'd want for our country and planet - not the one you'd settle for, not the one you fear, but the future of your dreams - isn't naive, it's a vital cognitive skill. That's how we articulate what we most value. What's worth fighting for.
Instead of whatever this is, we should have a government getting lots of new homes and apartments built, lots of clean energy built, lots of high speed rail and transit and bike lanes built, human rights for everyone, economic & healthcare opportunities for all, & innovation that leads the world.
January 4, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Reposted by Paula Waatainen
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵

Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
December 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
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😰 Are you dreading the moment when a family member will surely bring up a viral falsehood this holiday season?

✨ We can't guarantee success, but here are six tips for holding productive, fact-based conversations: zurl.co/QEAbD
November 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM
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Could be true. I started writing circa 1952, still at it, still here. Writing builds resilience by changing your brain, helping you face everyday challenges theconversation.com/writing-buil...
Writing builds resilience by changing your brain, helping you face everyday challenges
Resilience is often presented as feats of bravery and endurance. But everyday practices like journaling, drafting a text or even writing a to-do list are manifestations of a capacity to adapt.
theconversation.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:41 AM
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Did not expect one of the best paragraphs I’d read about baseball would come from an Irish newspaper

www.irishexaminer.com/sport-column...
November 2, 2025 at 2:22 PM
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Give Vladdy even more money. #Jays #WorldSeries
November 2, 2025 at 2:33 AM
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This photo of rookie Yesavage casually walking off the mound as future Hall of Famer and helmet-less Ohtani is still in motion striking out is everything. #WantItAll
October 30, 2025 at 2:02 AM
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How long before Koufax pitches? He’ll be 60 years rest.
October 28, 2025 at 4:49 AM
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Turn on this World Series game if you’re not watching it. Incredible drama
October 28, 2025 at 4:46 AM