American
Government
& Civic
Education
Adjunct Professor at Bakersfield & Taft Community Colleges
Teaching Government as It Is Lived
I teach American government by connecting political institutions, public policy, elections, and constitutional principles to the decisions that shape everyday life.
Since 2018, I have taught college students through in-person, online, evening, accelerated, rural, and correctional education courses at Bakersfield College and Taft College.
View Teaching CV
Teaching at a Glance
- Ian J. Anderson; BA, MPA - Adjunct Professor of American Government
Since 2018
College-level teaching experience
30+ Course Sections
American government and political science
Two Colleges
Bakersfield College and Taft College
Multiple Learning Environments
In-person, online, evening, rural, and correctional education
Making Government Understandable
American government can feel distant, complicated, and disconnected from everyday life. My goal is to help students understand how government actually works and why it matters.
Courses examine the Constitution, political institutions, elections, civil rights, public policy, California government, and the relationship between national, state, and local decision-making.
Students learn to evaluate evidence, understand competing viewpoints, communicate clearly, and connect political decisions to their communities.
What Students Learn
How Government Works
Students examine the Constitution, Congress, the presidency, courts, federalism, elections, and the institutions responsible for developing and carrying out public policy.
How Policy Affects Communities
Course concepts are connected to education, public funding, civil rights, economic opportunity, social services, and issues affecting California and local communities.
How to Evaluate Information
Students learn to distinguish credible evidence from unsupported claims and develop conclusions grounded in research, data, and constitutional principles.
How to Participate Effectively
The course builds the knowledge needed to understand elections, communicate about public issues, and participate more confidently in civic life.
Courses and Institutions
Bakersfield College
Adjunct Professor of Political Science | 2018–Present
Teaching experience includes American government courses offered through the Bakersfield College main campus, BC Online, and the Arvin Education Center.
Courses have included traditional semester, accelerated, summer, online, and in-person formats.
Taft College
Adjunct Professor of Political Science | 2020–Present
Teaching experience includes American government courses delivered through online, in-person, evening, rural-campus, and correctional education formats.
Experience Beyond the Classroom
My teaching is informed by professional experience in nonprofit leadership, government grants, education, community programs, and political analysis.
This practitioner perspective allows me to connect textbook concepts with the way laws, budgets, regulations, and public programs are developed and implemented.
Students see government as a working system that directly affects schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, families, and communities.
My Teaching Approach
Clear
Complex political institutions and public-policy issues are explained in direct, accessible language.
Relevant
Course concepts are connected to current issues, elections, legislation, court decisions, and community concerns.
Evidence-Based
Students are encouraged to examine credible sources, consider multiple perspectives, and support their conclusions with evidence.
Student-Centered
Courses are designed to support students with different backgrounds, educational experiences, schedules, and learning needs.
Student Feedback
Online and Flexible Instruction
I have developed and taught courses through asynchronous online instruction, live online meetings, traditional classrooms, evening schedules, accelerated terms, rural education centers, and correctional settings.
My professional development in online teaching includes:
- Online course design and instruction
- Equity and access in distance education
- Building online learning communities
- Humanizing online instruction
- Canvas and digital learning tools
- Accessible course content
- Student learning outcome alignment
- Liquid syllabus development
- PlayPosit and ConferZoom
This training supports courses that are organized, accessible, engaging, and easy for students to navigate.
Education and Research
I hold a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University, Bakersfield, as well as an Associate of Arts in Political Science from Bakersfield College.
I am completing a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at California State University, Bakersfield.
My research and academic interests include civic education, student persistence, online instruction, educational equity, and the experiences of foster, homeless, and justice-involved youth.
Teaching and Academic Collaboration
I welcome opportunities involving:
- American government instruction
- Political science education
- Civic education
- Curriculum development
- Guest lectures
- Public-policy discussions
- Faculty and community collaboration
COMPLETE TEACHING RECORD
Bakersfield College
Adjunct Professor of Political Science | 2018-Present
Fall 2025
POLS B1 — CRN 74353
Online, eight-week course
BC Online
POLS B1 — CRN 71263
In-person
Arvin Education Center
Summer 2025
POLS B1 — CRN 50665
Online, 1:00 p.m. section
BC Online
POLS B1 — CRN 50666
Online, 6:00 p.m. section
BC Online
Summer 2024
POLS B1 — CRN 52532
Online
BC Online
POLS B1 — CRN 52534
Online
BC Online
Spring 2024
POLS B1 — CRN 33532
In-person
Bakersfield College Main Campus
Spring 2023
POLS B1 — CRN 33464
In-person
Bakersfield College Main Campus
Fall 2022
POLS B1 — CRN 71934
In-person
Bakersfield College Main Campus
Summer 2022
POLS B1 — CRN 50665
Online
BC Online
POLS B1 — CRN 50676
Online
BC Online
Spring 2021
POLS B1 — CRN 32758
In-person
Bakersfield College Main Campus
Fall 2020
POLS B1 — CRN 73937
In-person
Bakersfield College Main Campus
Spring 2020
POLS B1 — CRN 32465
In-person
Bakersfield College Main Campus
POLS B1 — CRN 32471
In-person
Bakersfield College Main Campus
Fall 2019
POLS B1 — CRN 72201
In-person
Bakersfield College Main Campus
Spring 2019
POLS B1 — CRN 32345
In-person
Bakersfield College Main Campus
Spring 2018
POLS B1 — CRN 32080
In-person
Bakersfield College Main Campus
POLS B1 — CRN 33005
In-person
Bakersfield College Main Campus
Taft College
Adjunct Professor of Political Science | 2020–Present
Spring 2026
POLS C1000 — Section C1000-45
Online Asynchronous
POLS C1000 - Section C1000-47
Online Asynchronous
Fall 2024
POSC 1501 — Section 1501-44
Online
Taft College Main Campus
Summer 2024
POSC 1501 — Section 1501-20
Online
Fall 2023
POSC 1501 — Section 1501-40
In-person
Taft College Main Campus
Spring 2023
POSC 1501 — Section 1501-20
Evening course
Taft College Main Campus
POSC 1501 — Section 1501-47
Online, asynchronous
Fall 2022
POSC 1501 — Section 1501-21
In-person
Taft College Main Campus
POSC 1501 — Section 1501-44
In-person
Taft College Main Campus
Summer 2022
POSC 1501 — Section 1501-42
In-person
Taft College Main Campus
Spring 2022
POSC 1501 — Section 1501-20
In-person
Taft College Main Campus
POSC 1501 — Section 1501-22
In-person
Taft College Main Campus
Fall 2021
POSC 1501 — Section 1501-20
In-person
Taft College Main Campus
POSC 1501 — Section 1501-21
In-person
Taft College Main Campus
POSC 1501 — Section 1501-22
In-person
Taft College Main Campus
Spring 2021
POSC 1501 — Section 1501-44
In-person
Taft College Main Campus
Fall 2020
POSC 1501 — Section 1501-24
In-person
Taft College Main Campus
Instructional Experience
My teaching experience includes:
- In-person instruction
- Asynchronous online courses
- Synchronous online instruction
- Accelerated eight-week courses
- Summer courses
- Evening courses
- Rural-campus instruction
- Correctional education
- Canvas-based course design
- Accessible and equity-centered online instruction
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
I approach American government as a subject students experience every day. Elections, laws, budgets, court decisions, public programs, and government institutions directly affect their education, employment, rights, and communities.
My goal is to help students understand those systems, evaluate information carefully, and participate more confidently in civic life.
Media References
Jan. 29, 2025: KBAK/Eyewitness News, "Kern County considers restructuring election responsibilities amid criticism." By William Silverstein, KBAK/Eyewitness News
Oct. 25th, 2023: KBAK/Eyewitness News, "Speaker Mike Johnson: Expect differences from McCarthy." by Will Silverstein, Eyewitness News
June 30th, 2023: 23ABC/KERO, "Kern residents react to SCOTUS ruling against student loan forgiveness program." By Breanna Polk, 23ABC
23ABC | Bakersfield
- October 1st, 2024 at 10:21am by Dominique Lavigne 23ABC/KERO: "What's on the ballot? Proposition 32 aims to raise California minimum wages."
- October 3rd, 2024 at 6:27pm. by Dominique Lavigne, 23ABC/KERO: "What's on the ballot? Prop. 6 aims to end forced labor in California prisons."
- July 22nd, 2024 at 10:40 am by Veronica Morley 23ABC/KERO: "Kern County reaction to Kamala Harris presidential endorsements."
- March 12th, 2024 at 8:19pm by Veronica Morley, 23ABC/KERO: "Vince Fong leads the 20th Congressional District race as Special Election nears."
- January 26th, 2024 at 8:33am by Dominique Lavigne 23ABC/KERO: "News Literacy Week:: How language impacts how you understand the news. The ESL community may deal with misunderstandings when watching the news."
- June 14th, 2023 at 8:19pm by Amy Pachla, 23ABC/KERO: "City council passes water rate hike in Bakersfield, price goes up July 1st."
- January 23rd, 2023 at 7"31am by Breanna Polk & Charr Davenport, 23ABC/KERO: "Reflection on the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade."
- January 3rd, 2023 at 10:18pm by Breanna Polk, 23ABC/KERO: "Kevin McCarthy's tough road to the speaker's chair has implications for American democracy."
- Dec. 13th, 2022 at 6:26pm by Anthony Write, 23ABC/KERO: "Melissa Hurtado sworn in despite questions remaining in California Senate District 16 race."
How much did January 6th change the political landscape in Kern County.
by Keeley Van Middendorp, 23ABC
January 6th, 2023
BakersfieldNow EyewitnessNews KBAK/Fox50
- Thursday, May 9th, 2024 at 11:21pm by Celine Stevens, Eyewitness News: "Supervisor Zack Scrivner's medical leave raises questions about his future."
- Mon., October 2nd, 2023 at 6:19pm by William Silverstein, Eyewitness News: "California's newest senator: Who is Laphonza Butler?"
- Fri., September 22nd, 2023 at 2:07pm by Leslie Santibanez-Molina, Eyewitness News: "DACA in limbo once again; local immigration attorney weighs in."
- Fri., September 1st, 2023 at 4:13pm by Celine Stevens, BakersfieldNow (Eyewitness News): "Ca Senate Bill 14 advances: Steps towards making child trafficking a serious felony."
- View Copy of SB 14
- Tue., August 22nd, 2023 at 6:47pm by William Silverstein, Eyewitness News: "State Sen. Hurtado announces run for Congress."
- Wed., August 16th, 2023 at 11:25pm by Celine Stevens, Eyewitness News: "Proposed 28th Amendment introduced to California legislature."
- Mon., July 31st, 2023 at 6:51pm by William Silverstein, Eyewitness News: "California senate candidates tour Kern County."
- Fri., June 30th, 2023 at 11:11pm by Leslie Santibanez-Molina, Eyewitness News: "Reactions to Supreme Court Ruling in Colorado LGBTQ+ case."
- Thu., June 15th, 2023 at 11:30pm by Celine Stevens, Eyewitness News: "Water rates increasing for Bakersfield's Domestic Water System customers."
- Thu., June 8th, 2023 at 11:11am Fox26 News: "Governor Newsom proposes 28th Amendment for stricter gun control laws."
- Wed., May 10th, 2023 at 5:46pm by William Silverstein, Eyewitness News: "Valadao predicts more debt ceiling negotiations."
- Thu., March 30th, 2023 at 11:40pm by Celine Stevens, Eyewitness News: "California reacts to grand jury indicting former President Donald Trump."
- Fri., March 31st, 2023 at 11:25am by William Silverstein, Eyewitness News: "Lower Energy Cost Act passes House, faces hurdles in Senate."
- Fri., January 26th, 2023 at 6:57pm by David Kaplan, Eyewitness News: "Hulu documentary takes aim at crime in Kern County."
- Tue., January 3rd, 2023 at 6:15pm by David Kaplan, Eyewitness News: "Local reaction on McCarthy not getting votes to become Speaker of the House."
- Tue., December 13th, 2022 at 6:44pm by David Kaplan, Eyewintess News: "McCarthy bidding for Speaker, but not all republican congress members on board."