Current events are a part of employees’ lives, and younger generations in particular have more expectations that their employer display corporate citizenship — including a willingness to take a stand on issues and values that align with their own. While it may be tempting to forego communications on non-work related current events, companies that choose to address them should be thoughtful and consistent about which topics they prioritize. Having a documented policy about how to address current events in the workplace can help reduce the likelihood of confusion or controversy as events unfold.
Educators are increasingly finding ways to incorporate current events into their classroom curricula, and there are many online resources available to assist them. These teaching ideas can help students become better informed about their world and the problems that are occurring in places far from home.
Teaching Current Events in the Age of Social Media: Edutopia has an article that offers some suggestions on how to teach this topic, such as identifying different types of informational reading levels and educating students to be discerning about what they read on social media. It also recommends focusing on the importance of taking breaks from global news overload.
Educators can find lessons and activities about current events on many websites, such as Share My Lesson and Education World. For example, Education World has a lesson plan on the COVID-19 pandemic that includes activities, assessments, and a video. Another resource, Academy 4SC, offers a library of videos with teaching ideas that can be applied to various current events.