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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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)

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

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

8. Case Study
A New Diversity
The "New" Diversity Dilemma: Kevin Kertscher at TEDxNewBedford

9. 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?

10. 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?

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