Who’s Ready for an All-Digital Classroom?
As students all over the country head back to school this month, educators are busy finding new ways to engage them in relevant and meaningful ways. For many, this means integrating technology that students already use every day outside of school–such as social media, video conferencing, and e-readers–into the classroom’s curriculum. But transitioning these devices […]
National Holidays Around the World
How do you celebrate July 4th? You might display the Stars and Stripes on your front porch, or dress in red, white, and blue. You might march in a parade, attend a family picnic, or watch a spectacular fireworks display. People in other countries also celebrate important national holidays. Visit the Fourth of July topic […]
National Security Vs. Privacy
In response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act, federal legislation that strengthened the federal government’s ability to gather national intelligence on the actions of enemies or potential enemies. Since then, there has been many debates in this country about the balance between national security and a citizen’s individual […]
Spelling Bee Still a Big Deal
Arvind Mahankali, a 13-year-old from Bayside Hills, New York, successfully spelled the word knaidel to win the 86th Scripps National Spelling Bee last month. Arvind won a $30,000 cash prize and a $2500 savings bond. This was Mahankali’s fourth time competing in the Bee; he finished in third place in both 2011 and 2012. The […]
Boy Scouts Lift Membership Restriction
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) issued a statement last month announcing they would no longer deny membership to any youth based solely on sexual orientation. The 103-year-old youth organization has more than 2.7 million members (and more than 110 million former members) across the United States. At their annual meeting in Grapevine, Texas, the […]
New Testimony for the Benghazi Attacks
It has been eight months since the U.S. consulate in Benghazi was attacked and four people were killed, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens. In that time controversy has surrounded the White House’s handling of the situation. In events such as this, it is typical for government agencies to operate official investigations about the […]
A Changing Climate
The debate about global warming has been ongoing for many years. It seems to be when the U.S. experiences unseasonably warm or cold temperatures or a series of natural disasters like hurricanes or forest fires, then the talk of climate change becomes big news. California was recently in the national news because it has reported […]
A Presidential Legacy
Last month, the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum opened in Dallas, Texas. While it’s called a library, it is not a place where you would check out the latest bestseller. A presidential library is more like an archive of documents, and a museum of photographs and other important items from each term of […]
The Catholic Church Elects a New Pope
Last month Pope Benedict XVI announced his retirement as the leader of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church. The pope began his role as leader of the Catholic faith in 2005. Just over a month after making that surprise announcement, the Catholic Church announced a new leader: St. Francis I, the 226th pope (also known as […]
It’s Your Turn: Understanding Game-Based Learning
Rhea checks the cargo hold of her sailing ship. Everything has been loaded exactly as she directed. Grain from nearby farms bulge from linen sacks. Coal, iron ore, and stone are loaded into neatly stacked crates. These goods will fetch a high price at the market town two islands to the west. Rhea is eager […]