Describes an educational program which uses primary sources, guest speakers, and group activities to deeply involve students in the study of the Holocaust. Includes student evaluations of the class and descriptions of their work and activities. (GEA)

Describes an exercise in which students select an article or program pertaining to a problem or issue in their field and write a "letter to the editor," which is then critiqued in class. Illustrates how the exercise supports adult learning principles. (SK)

Of participants in forest stewardship workshops; 63 controls were surveyed upon arrival, a second group (n=77) after viewing slides, and a third (n=56) after slides and field demonstrations. Knowledge increases were higher for the second group than for controls and highest for slide/demo group. Only the latter indicated acceptance of the…

The presidents of the University of California Berkeley, Central Connecticut State University, Colorado College, and the University of North Carolina explain their actions to support academic freedom in controversies concerning Middle Eastern studies at their respective institutions. (EV)

Examines, based on a survey, potential differences between races in the agenda-setting process. Finds that whites and minorities do not have different issue agendas and do not differ on the magnitude of agenda-setting effects. (TB)

This letter, requested by University of California Berkeley's president, discusses the issues of academic freedom and responsibility raised by the controversy surrounding "The Politics and Poetics of Palestinian Resistance," a section of English taught there in fall 2002. (EV)

To overcome agent resistance to issues-based programming, an extension service used a stakeholder task force to identify critical issues. A survey was constructed and conducted with a sample population to verify the importance of the issues for program development. (SK)

A gerontology course on moral and ethical issues in aging must choose between advocacy or scientific objectivity, relative orientation or absolute standards, theoretical intellectual versus applied/personal orientation, and age-specific or age-irrelevant viewpoint. (SK)

Presents annotations of 10 novels for children (published in 1996 or 1997) that are strongly written and explore tough social and political issues through realistic or historical fiction lenses. (RS)

Describes Science Technology and Society (STS) simulations that teach students about human experiences involving controversial issues. When students are taught using controversial and authentic issues, science instruction becomes current and engaging. (SAH)

The author of this article states that one of the more troubling aspects of contemporary American culture is the considerable number of persons who feel no obligation to support freedom of speech and/or freedom of the press. Those who disagree are perceived as dangerous. There are right answers and wrong answers, and to suggest that one might…

This research demonstrates how prior knowledge may allow for qualitative differences in representation of texts about controversial issues. People often experience a memory bias in favor of information with which they agree. In several experiments it was found that individuals with high prior knowledge about the topic were better able to recall…

The battle between creationists and evolutionists has waxed and waned in American culture and education for decades. This conflict is evident in the contemporary debate between the proponents of intelligent design and its opponents. This article illuminates the intelligent design movement by describing major proponents' beliefs, goals, and…

Case studies typically do not promulgate a particular viewpoint about a subject. They may, however, take a particular stance on an issue--one the author does not necessarily personally support or believe in--to challenge students to examine a difficult subject from all vantage points. Ignoring controversial topics and striking a politically…

This paper examines the relationship between literacy, equality and creativity and the relevance for adult literacy practices. It looks in particular at how literacy tutors can use creative non-text methods to promote an understanding of equality in learners' lives. Through an examination of the findings from the Literacy and Equality in Irish…