America's sense of community is broken down; its sense of connectedness and the collective is "collapsing." That these senses ever existed is a matter for considerable debate. But, as the new millennium gains momentum and neoliberalism seeks expansion, the author argues that a focus on rekindling these concepts of community,…

Decision making is influenced by multiple factors, especially when approaching controversial socio-scientific issues, such as stem cell research. In the present study, we used qualitative data from 132 college student papers in a biotechnology course to investigate how students made decisions about stem cell research issues. Students indicated…

Authors stress the need of students to know more human beings and to know more about human beings; and they list several ideas for the study of current events. (GB)

Reports on a survey of journalism schools and departments to evaluate their courses in current events and issues. Suggests that journalism-taught current events or contemporary world affairs courses should be sanctioned without being counted in the 25% limitation on journalism courses. (HTH)

National Public Radio's educational staff is experimenting with radio in the classroom by dramatizing the issues of the Afghan crisis in an audiodisc presentation mailed to teachers around the country. The article includes samples of dialogue from the tape, student opinions, and why radio is the medium used. (CT)

Laments journalism students' lack of general world knowledge and describes an abbreviated general knowledge curriculum implemented in a newswriting course. (HTH)

Teaching current affairs is one of the greatest curriculum problems facing secondary school social studies teachers. Teachers must solve the problem by intensively planning and organizing, first selecting an appropriate organizational pattern and then developing an instructional unit. (Author/JM)

The idea of using newspapers in education is not a new one; in fact, recorded references go back as far as the 1890s. During the first half of the 20th century educators and newspaper people increased the awareness of how current materials could maintain an important place in the school curriculum. Influential publications during this period…

Discusses techniques for infusing current events into an international politics course. Describes Current Events Sweepstakes and Great Decisions Roundtable which acquaint students with contemporary issues. Reports a survey of 86 participating students concerning the programs. While admitting the limited scope of these activities, the conclusion is…

Teacher education programs of U.S. universities hold great potential for promoting new ways of thinking about the formation of a united Germany and its future role in Europe. These programs are important because they influence teacher candidates as to how they will teach about the New Europe. Three recommendations are offered to expand the…

Presented in this document is a report of an innovative approach to social studies through the use of newspapers in the classrooms in Canada. Topic Today is a one-page newspaper of current affairs geared to grades 6 through 8, but applicable to secondary grades, developed to make available resources of current affairs found in regular newspapers…

This document suggests that the main purpose of the study of current affairs in the social studies program in Alberta, Canada, is to add relevance, interest, and immediacy. It defines current affairs as the study of news events presented by the media. Because the study of current affairs must be tied to the achievement of social studies…

Since the collapse of state socialism in East Germany in 1989, political discourse among citizens has changed dramatically. There is now talk of democracy, tolerance, the individual, and democratic socialism. This paper examines the impact of this new discourse upon citizenship education in what was formerly East Germany specifically focusing on…

Recent historical events have made it increasingly important to strengthen the study of Western Europe in U.S. schools. With full integration of the European Community after 1992, with the unification of the two Germanys, and with the newly democratic states of the old Soviet bloc seeking some form of association with the European Economic…

Contends that current events can be used to develop thinking skills necessary for effective history learning. Describes using daily newspapers as a source of information for historical analysis. Asserts that social studies teachers must teach students how to use the media as a goal of citizenship education. (CFR)