Apparently news quizzes are difficult.
I wasn’t really aware of this until this semester when I began giving weekly current events quizzes in one of my courses. Some students are doing quite well on the quizzes, while others are really struggling.
I had heard other faculty members grumble about students’ ignorance of news, but I naively assumed it must be their students, not mine. After all, I teach in a mass communications program. My students want to be journalists and media practitioners. They understand that being informed is key to their professional futures and important to their ability to function intelligently and actively in a democratic society. Right?
I even put a version of this statement on every syllabus I distribute:
Good media practitioners (and citizens) are well-informed news consumers. You should read The Oklahoman and The Campus every day. I recommend that you get into the habit of reading at least one daily metropolitan newspaper and a weekly news magazine. I also recommend that you watch at least one televised newscast each day. Responsible citizens are avid news consumers. Information is the key to a democratic society. Develop the habit of daily news consumption now if you haven’t already.
I assumed that my students understood the importance of being informed. You know what happens when you assume, right?
It’s not that I’m quizzing them about obscure information. I’m purposely choosing items that have been at the top of the public’s agenda in any given week. If the class as a unit doesn’t know the answer to a question, I give them all credit, assuming I’ve gone too far off the beaten path. An example from last week’s quiz: What search capability did Google add this week? None of my students knew it was the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. I pulled that news item because I thought it was just strange and they would remember it. They hadn’t read it, so I gave them all credit.
As the semester progresses, I’m beginning to think that poor grades on news quizzes are not for lack of trying on behalf of the majority of my students. Sure, some of them are waiting until the morning of the quiz (Friday. Yes, that’s kinda tricky.) and attempting to read as much news as possible just before class starts. Not the best strategy. But I honestly think many of the students are just overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available. They can’t filter through all of the noise.
To assist in this process, I developed a list of seven apps my students can use to stay informed on current events. It easily could work for students anywhere.
1. USA Today
I’m not a huge fan of USA Today as a publication, but their app is well organized and a wonderful way to get a buffet of the biggest news happenings quickly and easily.
2. NewsOK
NewsOK is the app for our state newspaper, The Oklahoman. Obviously, this would need to be altered slightly, depending on location. However, it’s critical for students to remain up-to-date on local news in their region, state and city.
3. MediaOCU
In the same way that students should be informed about local happenings, they also should be informed about hyperlocal (campus) happenings. MediaOCU is the app for our campus student media. I almost always ask at least one quiz question from campus news.
4. AP Mobile
The Associated Press breaks news in real time and only reports on the most important issues. I recommend that students not only look at the AP Mobile app, but also allow it to send breaking news alerts to their phones.
5. CNN
Although I look at CNN, I find that most of the content there already has been covered by USA Today or AP. I could just as easily skip this one, since I read the others first. However, it is a legitimate news source and a place for additional information.
6. Mashable
Tech news is huge. Mashable does it best. I usually pull at least one quiz question from something I’ve read on Mashable. Many times, it’s also something covered in the Tech section of USA Today.
7. Huffington Post
I go back and forth about whether Huff Po is a legitimate news source. The journalist in me thinks not. However, the journalist in me also wouldn’t recommend that my students look almost solely at apps to prepare for a current events quiz, so… whatever works. I usually take a look at Huff Po just to see what kind of crazy hash they’re slinging. I don’t think I’ve ever taken a quiz question from the site, but some of the unusual stories have provided interesting classroom discussion fodder.
There you have it. The seven apps (or at least types of apps) that can keep students informed on current events. Hopefully just being reminded of the list, which I provided verbally early in the semester, will send current event quiz grades through the roof.
Let’s Talk Nerdy!
Just out of curiosity, how many of these seven apps do you read daily? Are there others that should be on the list? Where do you get the majority of your news?
profkrg says
@teachingwthsoul Thank you, Lisa!
MargieClayman says
@profkrg that was great information!
ChattyProf says
@profkrg We shall see :-).
profkrg says
@ChattyProf I’ve heard some interesting ones the last couple of days. Thought of you!
ChattyProf says
@profkrg Well, I would be glad to knock on your door for #STNT #2 and quote you :-).
profkrg says
@ChattyProf I need to start writing them down!
ChattyProf says
@profkrg I’d love it!
laurietewksbury says
@SocialMediaSean Current event/news quizzes were some of the hardest for me in undergraduate career. Sad but very very true.
profkrg says
@SocialMediaSean Thank you, Sean!
AliHandscomb says
@profkrg no problem. Always good to pass on great tips.
douglaserice says
@profkrg Mashable, of course :-D. I use the app of my local TV station, @WKBN , to catch the headlines for other news.
SteveCassady says
@profkrg I use four of those apps and linkedin news.
profkrg says
@SteveCassady which ones?
mrpotter says
@AngelaMaiers @profkrg I’d rather have @zite and @flipboard #personalizednews
LauraOgan says
@AngelaMaiers @profkr
Live your posts
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A flash card app for kids to learn and enforce their basic math skills
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