"It has long been known that students are more likely to learn and to retain information for which they see practical use and relevance (Dewey, 1938). The In the News IDEA can be used in a variety of different formats and course subjects to illustrate to students that concepts learned in class are directly relevant to societal issues. Students may bring in news stories of their choice to discuss, or the instructor may select a “hot topic” for the class. The core concept is to cold-call on students to describe their news story or share thoughts about a current event to encourage class discussion and application of course content to contemporary contexts. In the News is particularly engaging when controversial situations are brought to class that provide fodder for discussion.Discussion of current events fosters critical thinking and analytic skills. Students enter class with a variety of social, political, and religious perspectives. Encouraging productive discussion on contemporary events can help students consider their own opinions as well as different views held by their classmates (Borg & Borg, 2001)." — Teaching for Learning, Major CH, Harris MS, Zakrajsek T, 2016 |