Teaching Tip: How to blend the world, your classroom

November 29, 2016

Marissa Carl

When the world feels too big to shut out of your classroom, do you close the door or do you invite in what’s on the minds of so many? Integrating current events into your course is not only engaging for students, it teaches them to approach challenging conversations as learners and to defend their positions with evidence.

Use discussion, collaboration and creation to integrate current events into your course. Start a conversation by asking students: What has surprised you about _________? Ask students what they're reading, watching and listening to on the topic. Use a social bookmarking tool to gather resources collaboratively, then analyze the collection. Draw data out of your collection and ask students to analyze, present, dispute and discuss the data.

Read the full Teaching Tip for more ideas about how and why you might draw current events into your classroom.

— Teaching Tip by Kendell Newman Sadiik, M.F.A., a writer, teacher and instructional designer who has been working in higher education for six years in roles ranging from research to curriculum design and delivery.