2. Structured Engagement with Current and Controversial Issues
Students (like many adults) often retain information better if it is connected to
real world events. Encouraging discussion of current events in the classroom
allows teachers to demonstrate concepts they are discussing. It also allows
students to learn about current affairs and wrestle with the complexities of
making decisions about important issues.
Indicators
Quality classroom engagement with current and controversial issues features:
- Discussion of controversial public issues (local, national and international).
- Information about public issues is provided through a variety of sources including newspapers and other media.
- Discussion is balanced and does not indoctrinate.
- A focus on an interpretable text, issue or idea.
- Open-ended (authentic) questions are asked for which there are no obvious answers.
- Relevant background knowledge, including life experience, is used in a logical way.
- Different opinions are expressed, heard, respected, understood and analyzed
- Participation is not centered on any one person.
- Students have opportunities to listen, speak and feel welcome to participate from a variety of perspectives in a supportive environment.
- Students are engaged intellectually and emotionally.
- Students develop reasoned positions using ideas and arguments presented in the discussion.
- Students have license and opportunity to change points of view or reach different conclusions based on evidence and insights offered during a discussion.
Evidence
Research tells us that open discussion of current events is as important as it is rare.
- Fourteen-year-olds in “open” classrooms around the world indicate they are more likely to plan to vote than their peers in more traditional classrooms.
- Students who discussed issues in class were more likely to say they had participated in civic activities than students who had no opportunity in class to think through and discuss public issues.
- Students who have the opportunity to discuss controversial public policy issues in a supportive atmosphere are more likely to express higher levels of political efficacy, interest, trust and confidence than their peers without such experiences.
- An open classroom climate for discussion is a significant predictor of civic knowledge, support for democratic values, participation in political discussion and political engagement.
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