Courses
Current Events and Media Literacy
Taught by Rebecca Simpson
Full-Year
NOTE: This will be a 2-hour class every two weeks.
Course Description:
This class will combine learning about current events topics around the world with information and exercises in media literacy and critical thinking. Classes will alternate in format. In the first class, we will look at a short list of recent news articles. Throughout the year, I make an effort to select articles that cover a variety of topics and geographic locations, on issues related to politics, governance, world affairs, economics, etc. The students choose (by vote) a topic from the headlines for us to dive into that month. We will read through the article together and generate a list of questions we have on the topic. Sometimes they are interested in more than one, and we’ll read both articles, then decide. We will also do an activity related to media literacy or critical thinking. These can include interpreting data and statistics in the news, recognizing (or not!) AI content, recognizing misinformation, understanding bias, assessing reliable sources, etc.
For homework in between classes, I will send a list of resources related to the topic they chose (typically a mix of articles, videos, and podcasts). In previous years, we’ve looked at topics that have led us to learn about the UN, the ICC and ICJ, NATO, freedom of speech around the world, court systems and legal rights, intelligence organizations, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, etc. I often try to link a current events topic to the historical context and also national and international laws and human rights. I try to keep homework to about 1-1.5 hours in total, but it may occasionally be longer if there is a documentary involved. Students have about 1.5 weeks to complete the homework, so can spread it out. There is no “output” required, it’s all reading, watching videos, and listening to podcasts.
In the second class, we discuss the homework resources and assess whether we think we have answered all of our questions from the first class. Sometimes I’ll share an article or video that is more recent than the homework if it is a quickly evolving news story. If not, we might divvy up any remaining questions and go searching for specific answers, then come back and discuss as a group. Time permitting, we will do another activity related to media literacy. For homework after the second class, there will be a short video (e.g., from the Crash Course Media Literacy video series) of about 10-20 min.
Schedule and Cost:
***NOTE: This will be a 2-hour class every two weeks, starting September 11, 2026.
FRIDAYS: ages 12-18
Friday 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET
Every TWO WEEKS on these 16 dates (totalling 32 hours of class time):
Sept. 11, Sept. 25, Oct. 16, Oct. 30, Nov. 13, Dec. 4, & Dec. 18, 2026; and Jan. 8, Jan. 22, Feb. 5, Feb. 26, Mar. 12, Mar. 26, Apr. 9, Apr. 30, & May 14, 2027
IMPORTANT:
Registration will continue through the year until the course is full, and the cost will be pro-rated to reflect the remaining sessions.
For Tuition Fees, Code of Conduct, and all the details, see THE FINE PRINT
Required Homework:
For homework in between the first and second type of class:
There will be a mix of articles, videos, and podcasts that require approximately 1-1.5 hours of reading/watching/listening, but it may occasionally be longer if there is a documentary involved.
For homework after the second type of class, before we start the cycle again:
There will only be one short video (10-15 min).
Course Materials:
None necessary to purchase.
Occasional printouts throughout the year