Current Events

Required Materials:
Books and supplies are not included in the purchase of the course.

• No books are required, but access to the internet (with parent approved site) will be expected
•  All extra reading material will be provided by the teacher 

Quarter 1

** Introduction to the News**

1. News categories: politics and world events, science, health, sports, arts and entertainment, technology, and business.
2. Forms of news media: articles (print and digital), television, radio/podcasts, documentaries, social media.
3. Forms of news articles: general reporting, editorials, interviews, long form investigations.
4. Assignments: weekly assignments and end of quarter reflection paper.

Quarter 2

Understanding New Sources and Bias

1. Taking a look at different news sources and where they tend to fall on the political spectrum.
2. Recognizing where bias exists in a news source, how to be aware of it and still learn from it, as well as addressing “Fake News.”
3. Assignments: weekly assignments and end of quarter reflection paper.

Quarter 3

Investigative Journalism

1. Along with regular current events, a few long term investigative journalism stories will be explored showing how the news goes beyond straightforward factual articles
2. Further discussions and articles about how bias plays into how the news is reported.
3. Assignments: weekly assignments and end of quarter reflection paper.

Quarter 4

Putting it into Practice

1. The concepts learned during the first part of the year will be applied to the current events we continue to discuss.
2. Assignments: weekly assignments and end of year research and reflection paper.

Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.

High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.

Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)

Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm

Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use. To download Zoom:

1. Visit zoom.us/download.
2. Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
3. Open and run the installer on your computer.
4. In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.

Scanner: In this class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks. Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.