Expanding Source Material for Practical Learning Christopher Waters, MPA Adjunct Instructor College of Business

Introductions Myself. What Colleges are represented? Have you ever used current events in the classroom or coursework?

Overview/Agenda Why use current events in the coursework/classroom? What are the benefits/issues the may occur? And how to mitigate them. Resources for Professors and students Case Study on Diversity Discussion and Questions

Why use current events in the coursework/classroom? Expand your materials Ability to use textbook as starting off point Allows students to have input on the course Develop media literacy Diversify students reading material Improve where and how students source reading materials Makes the abstract more solid

Why use current events in the coursework/classroom? Continued Create more interesting assignments for students Case Studies Opinion Papers Online Discussions, Polls Engage and practice more difficult conversations Allows students to move beyond surface (deep thinking)

What are some of the challenges? Facts vs. Opinions Disagreement in the classroom Getting over yourself Sometimes issues are ambiguous

Resources for Professors and students. Newspapers, Journals, Online Articles TedTalk Books Libraries Other Courses

Case Study A New Diversity The "New" Diversity Dilemma: Kevin Kertscher at TEDxNewBedford https://youtu.be/lC7AvYoJgJE?t=37 https://youtu.be/lC7AvYoJgJE?t=663

Case Study Why did I show you that video? How did it challenge your assumptions on diversity? Why don’t more organizations view diversity as was shown in the TedTalk? What is the challenge of implementing diversity?

Discussion and Questions How would you involve more current events in your coursework? What topics from your current classes that you teach could you combine with current events? What are some of the issues that you might face in including current events?

Thank You Christopher Waters, MPA Christopher.b.waters@wilmu.edu