Online activism is a space of opportunity for students to encounter social justice issues, explore the possibilities of visual rhetoric, practice persuasive speaking skills, and actively contribute to the momentum of social movements. At the same time, digital activism raises concerns about "slacktivism," limiting the necessary…

Michael Young's notion of powerful knowledge is attractive to many: to teachers wishing the best for disadvantaged students, to neoliberal governments that continually stress the need for teachers and students to improve their performance. This essay takes issue with this understanding of education. Firstly, it shows how classrooms are mediated by…

This article explains why elementary school children need civic education, identifies common obstacles that frustrate efforts, then describes how the Storypath approach can provide all students with opportunities for powerful civic learning. An actual application in a culturally diverse fourth-grade classroom illustrates how children grappled with…

The study of current events can take several forms, and the right current event to study as a class depends on the educational purposes, the curricular standards the authors want to address, and the resources they have available to meet them, and what the needs and abilities are of the students present in the class. In this article, they focus on…

States that the adolescent years are timely years for addressing problems of discrimination, prejudice, and cultural differences. Argues that dramatization of the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of characters can provide students with an understanding of those issues. Uses Mildred Taylor's "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" as an example, and…

Use of the format of a congressional hearing, instead of traditional teaching methods, appears to enhance direct student involvment, interest, and knowledge. Described are the social setting and procedures, research protocol, analysis and evaluation, and conclusions and limitations of the experiment. (KM)

Heightens student awareness of ethical considerations inherent in advertising procedures, enabling students to articulate a position on an advertising issue without undue bias. (RL)

Reviews a classroom experience which used the computer simulation "Decisions, Decisions: Immigration" in a secondary school social studies class. Highlights include descriptions of the decision making process, rank ordering of priorities, political and social issues relating to immigration, and benefits of teaching the simulation. (LRW)

Discusses the case study method of teaching high school chemistry as a supplement to traditional methods. The case study, provided by the instructor, generally focuses on a socially important issue related to chemistry; the student investigates the problem for one or two weeks and provides a solution. (MLH)

Discusses use of simulation/role playing to help students understand unfamiliar, controversial situations and practice decision making in a nonthreatening context. Essential steps in simulation/role playing, four actual simulation/role playing situations, and their learning outcomes are described, and information sources for further information on…

AN AID TO THE CLASSROOM TEACHER IN THE TEACHING OF HUMAN RELATIONS IS PRESENTED. SOCIODRAMA, OR ROLE-PLAYING, IS PRIMARILY USEFUL IN SOLVING PROBLEMS INVOLVING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG TWO OR MORE PERSONS. IT THEREFORE PROVIDES A VALUABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOLS WHICH ARE CONCERNED WITH THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF BOYS AND GIRLS, WITH MORAL AND…

Interactive Drama for Education and Awareness in the Schools (IDEAS) is an artist-in-residency program designed for classroom use by deaf adolescents and their teachers in urban areas. Using dramatic role playing, sign language, and drama-based teaching methods, the program presents content and provokes discussion in three broad categories:…

Thirty-one 6th-grade students with and without mild disabilities participated in an eight-week project-based investigation about immigration to the United States. Students were assigned the role of the immigrants or opponents of immigration and asked to debate desirability of immigration. Debates promoted high levels of engagement and equal…

The use of improvisational drama to foster classroom communication about works of literature and about controversial topics of concern to students is described in this paper. After discussing the values of improvisational drama in the English classroom, the paper outlines a five-day sequence of exercises and activities involving relaxation,…