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Q5. I used to buy a load of newspapers on my way into school. Get pupils to pick a story of their choice and ask 'validation' questions. Is that sentence really true? How can we check? etc. Worked really well and was obviously topical #Ukedchat
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A1 I think children are aware of current affairs from a fairly young age. We use current affairs across Key Stage 2, so from the age of 7. I work in a junior school. #UKEdChat
A1: always a tendency to look at older pupils within the age range to consider delivery of current affairs- the reality is that, delivered effectively & appropriately, any age group can gain a wider understanding of the world around them in terms of what is current #UKEdChat
A1 Children are aware of current affairs in reception and primary. I would be disappointed if students started in Year 7 without being curious of the world. There is a responsibility of unpicking worries that children have so they don’t burden or worry #UKEdChat
#UKEdChat Q2
How can we make national news of importance accessible without over-simplifying, especially with young learners?
Pls use the hashtag & A2...
Every year group - from reception up to higher education. Using current affairs is using living history and if students/children are not exposed to this - how will they learn? #UKEDchat Vitally important that current affairs are used, discussed and understood
A1 - We can use current affairs with any age group. It's about simply choosing the approach and the appropriateness to the class e.g. my wife is special needs primary and they have talked about terrorism this year - they students have approached her with questions #ukedchat
A2 #UKEDchat using it in tutor time through newsround is good. Asking them about what they have understood and having a discussion with them. Getting them to research info or watch the news snippets and then tell you one thing they found interesting and why? Opening discussions
#ukedchat A2: Never assume there is something they 'just won't understand'. Compare it to something they understand already, give context, use high level stuff and break it down together- word by word if needed.
#UKEdChat Q2 again
How can we make national news of importance accessible without over-simplifying, especially with young learners?
Pls use the hashtag & A2...
A2 My class love Newsround and enjoy reading First News. Both make national news accessible without dumbing down. There is time to discuss the news which is important to ensure chn understand what is happening. #UKEdChat
A2 - Will defer to my wife here - She just talks to them about the topic/issue. They bring up the topics, and ask the questions and she answers. She has also used @BBCNewsround to help explain things #ukedchat
A3 #UKedChat Definitely. As humanities we’re not teaching properly if we don’t access current affairs. However, it’s inexcusable for other subjects to avoid. Teachers have a social responsibility & should *want* to reflect current affairs in their teaching.
A2: The key to avoiding over simplification comes down to regular engagement with current affairs and newsworthy items- devoting well planned time, discussion & questions that foster understanding and curiosity is key #UKEdChat
#ukedchat A3 I think that languages are esp. useful to integrate current affairs, think of listening comprehension (audio fragments from current radio broacasts, podcasts, TV shows …), reading (magazines / newspapers …) etc. #education#onderwijs#taaldidactiek
A3 All subjects can use current affairs - developments in ICT, new discoveries in history and science, natural disasters in Geography etc. As "experts" in our fields, we should be drawing more attention to current affairs #ukedchat
#ukedchat A3: No subject is static. Subject teachers will keep up with their areas of interest and I think we have a social responsibility to disseminate down wherever appropriate... esp for those who may not have those discussions elsewhere.
#ukedchat A3 Science works brilliantly because there is such a lack of understanding of how the media distort/subvert/sensationalise scientific fact, lots of misconceptions to address....!
#UKEdChat A3. I think all subject areas lend themselves to current affairs. It’s important to discuss what is happening in the world around us in all areas of learning and the curriculum. It’s about being fluid and not putting learning opportunities into little boxes.
A3: I think there is certainly easier links in certain subjects, but all subjects can embed current affairs and topical elements- it’s a matter of mindset and commitment from individual departments to be innovative and build into their units of work #UKEdChat
#UKEdChat Q4
How can we ensure we do not impose our own bias when using the news in the classroom? Should teachers express opinions?
Pls use the hashtag & A4...
A3 Geography for natural disasters, volcanoes etc. History - an anniversary of a particular date or there's been an archaeological discovery. Science - learning about nature, space... Good for general knowledge which I think has become less common in recent years. #UKEdChat
#UKEdChat Q4 again
How can we ensure we do not impose our own bias when using the news in the classroom? Should teachers express opinions?
Pls use the hashtag & A4...
#ukedchat A4: If I don't give the students my context (bias) I think it's the equivalent of giving them a historical source with no ascription. They have to know my views to an extent to unpack my biases. It is impossible to achieve entire impartiality, so I don't pretend.
#UKEdChat A4. We can’t be bias as we are role models to ALL the children. I just make sure to present multiple opinions when discussing. I also state that it’s okay for people to have different opinions and just because someone doesn’t agree with us it doesn’t make them wrong.
#ukedchat A4 I work with some incredibly narrow minded students, raised by narrow minded/racist/misogynistic/etc. parents and sometimes have to try to un-do 13 years of listening to their misinformed rhetoric...the focus is having a balanced opinion backed up by facts...
A4 I'm a long time Labour member/socialist and believe that your political leaning is huge influence on your practice. However, I've had lots of YR5/6 pupils in the past ask how I've voted. I wouldn't share that, but my values are what drive my teaching.
A5 - We have a great schools library service who this year is working with year 7 students to spot fake news and questions sources @slsguernsey#ukedchat
A4 As well as our own bias need to make young people aware of bias in media depending on political ideologies. If a child asks me for my opinion I will share them. I also tell them there are a range of views and that opinions are personal. #UKEdChat
Q5: the news must be used to generate your own questions. Chn should ask why is this important? Who benefits from this narrative being portrayed?#UKEdChat
A4 #UKEdChat I’ve found that by bringing up a news item and getting some thoughts from the class, followed by further questioning them about why they have those thoughts allows you to discuss your own personal opinion as well as reflect on it
#UKEdChat A4. Politically, I will never share my bias. In some cases, it is important to share your own opinion, especially when tackling some challenging views. Spoken language and vocab choice is important, such as “they believe that...”
#UKEdChat Q6
(a) Should schools attempt to manage their image with PR professionals? (b) What experience has your school had with the local/national press?
Pls use the hashtag & A6...
A5 #UKEdChat Showing them the same news story published by sources with divergent audiences can show students that the same story can be ‘spun’ in a different way
A5 My class asked me if newspapers are nonfiction. I thought carefully about my answer.I told them any news is told by someone and they tell one version of it.Some of the news nowadays is not completely factual. They knew the term fake news. So the answer is yes and no! #UKEdChat
A6b - We had a huge news article about a piece of RE homework asking students to write a letter explaining to parents why they were converting to Islam. For a small island, made the national press. (a) Waste of money #ukedchat
#UKEdChat Q6 again
(a) Should schools attempt to manage their image with PR professionals? (b) What experience has your school had with the local/national press?
Pls use the hashtag & A6...
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#ukedchat A6 Our local papers love to jump on any school and sensationalise any negatives, sometimes missing the hard work that goes into raising the profile of the school....You make your own PR success by engaging with the local community.
A6 In local news (Eco newsletter) we have been recognised for achieving Eco awards, growing plants etc. This isn't for PR. It is a great way for children, staff and parents to see how the school is moving forward. And a good sharing opportunity with other schools. #UKEdChat
Its not just the press. Individuals can negatively impact schools reputations - e.g. google reviews. If not checked, can impact schools greatly. Too many schools ignore this until its too late. #ukedchat
A7 During a volcanoes topic there was a volcano erupting and it was in the news. It made the topic more meaningful to the chn as the news story was about now and not many, many years ago. #UKEdChat
A7 #ukedchat I've used a resource that @nytimes post every week. The photo is completely out of context and students suggest what the photo entails. Two days later NYT release a by-line which we discuss again. I then ask students to write their own article in tutor.
A5 - read the same story from different sources. Make up a story and see if they spot it’s made up. Bet celebrity fake argument stories are believed! #ukedchat
Q6: Schools are becoming increasingly more reliant upon platform based systems and social media to promote, inform & engage- with that comes inevitable ‘brand’ element that involves at least some PR. The schools we work with have PR managers & market themselves #UKEdChat
A8 #ukedchat We have faculty twitters and hashtags for the school. We also run a blog and an interactive newsletter for the local community. We have 6th Form ambassadors who work a lot with the local villages.
#UKEdChat A7. We recently took part in a whole school Plastics week. The topic is huge in the news at the moment and the children were engaged throughout. It’s nice to see them still discussing the topic weeks after we’ve completed the work.
A7 teaching ultrasound... and uses appearing in cutting edge science such as ultrasound taps for cleaning without soap and delivery of drugs using micro bubbles popped at location using ultrasound #UKEdChat
A8 We have a monthly newspaper an A4 sheet (both sides). It is colourful with photos. Children often write articles about a trip or are quoted. They love seeing their names. The newsletters are available on the school website and in a folder in the foyer for visitors. #UKEdChat
#UKEdChat Q8 again
How do you curate news about what is happening in your classroom/school for parents and the local community?
Pls use the hashtag & A8...
A7 teaching genes and gene editing appears in the news with CRISPR and TedEd explanations.. and then it being used in Rampage with @TheRock#UKEdChat ... and don't forget a similar thing with spider goat with @AdamRutherford .. so many modern links..
