Current Connections

Throughout the semester, we will engage in many small group discussions, essay writing and a variety other types of learning experiences. While I will lead many discussions, so you will have opportunities to design and lead discussions as well. One of these regular discussions will focus on connections between current events in the field of education and the foundational topics and issues we are reading about and discussing in class.

The ED100 class is divided into four (4) learning circles responsible for engaging the whole class in overviews and discussions of current connections topics and issues in the field of education. During the semester, your LC will take on this responsibility and will have about thirty minutes (~30 minutes) to discuss the work you are doing in this area. The schedule for these discussions can be found under the Calendar tab of the ED100 course website.

Assignment dates vary by learning community.  However, Current Connection BlogPosts are due at midnight on the Tuesday following classroom discussions.

Essay & Discussion Procedures

Write a brief essay to synthesize the week’s assigned reading with your selection of a recently published (within the past two years) newspaper or magazine article. (Approximately 750 words not including the citation of the news article).

  1. Based on in-class learning experiences and engagement with the reading assigned for the week, research and identify a related article published in a credible news source within the past two years. To do this, consider using the databases listed below.
  2. During the designated class period, each LC member will have approximately 10 minutes to:
    • Discuss their current event article, and
    • Explain the relationship of the article to the assigned reading, and
    • Encourage a brief discussion.
  3. Following class discussion of the recently published articles, each LC member writes a brief essay synthesizing this week’s assigned reading with the recently published (within the past two years) newspaper or magazine article that they selected.
    1. In posts associated with the current connections assignment place emphasis on demonstrating your understanding of the assigned reading.  Discuss:
      • What the reading was about,
      • How it is developed,
      • It’s point of view, and
      • Your perspective on the topic and assessment of the reading
    2. Additionally, develop a focus on one or more significant aspects of the assigned reading and how they relate to the current connection article that you select.
  4. (Approximately 750 words, not including the citation of the news article).

 Current Connections Assessment Rubric

Newspaper Source This opens a pop-up window to share the URL for this databaseProvides full text for 245 regional U.S. newspapers, eighteen international newspapers, six newswires, and nine newspaper columns, The Christian Science Monitor, and The Los Angeles Times (for a total of 194 full text newspapers and other sources).

Newsbank This link opens in a new window NewThis opens a pop-up window to share the URL for this databaseBrowse or search all JCU Readex and Newsbank collections, including newspapers, books, pamphlets, government publications, and more.

New York Times, 1980- current This link opens in a new window This opens a pop-up window to share the URL for this databaseComprehensive digital coverage back to 1980 is available for this internationally renowned U.S. newspaper through the ProQuest database. The complete text of recent articles is provided in the ASCII format. The New York Times Book Review and Sunday Magazine are provided in PDF format.

Nexis Uni by LexisNexis This opens a pop-up window to share the URL for this databaseAlternative Name(s) & Keywords: LexisNexis AcademicNexis Uni is the new version of LexisNexis Academic. It simplifies the search strategy for a broad array of content:
· print and online journals, television and radio broadcasts, newswires and blogs
· local, regional, national, and international newspapers with deep archives
· extensive legal sources for federal and state cases and statutes, including U.S. Supreme Court decisions since 1790
· business information on more than 80 million U.S. and international companies and more than 75 million executives
Students can save searches to re-run in the future, create alerts on topics, bookmark documents, and create folders online for sharing.