CNN STUDENT NEWS Tech Review by Lauri Nichols www.cnnstudentnews.com

1. CNN Student News is a website that presents a daily 10 minute video broadcast about the current events going on in the country and world. It is directed towards students, engaging, and helps to present current events in a way that students can relate to. It is paced to keep students’ attention and clearly identifies key current events as well as brings forth the main facts. Included with the video are discussion topics, a media question of the day, and other CNN teacher resources. 2. Strengths • The video clip/site is updated every day. • The information is relevant to what is currently going on in the country and world. Events are summed up in an interesting way for students to grasp and see visually. • The video engages students with images, information, a “SHOUT OUT” to a school, and a trivia question. • No commercials and its free. • The site provides discussion questions for each day’s video clip. • The video clips are archived so that students can review and make connections as time goes by. • Students really enjoy this site. I started using it last year to go along with my current events and students wanted to watch it every day. • You can pause the video and allow for student comments, questions, perspectives, and discussion. 3. W eaknesses • I haven’t come across any significant weakness. It would be nice if there were additional components or interactive items for students but after doing current events multiple ways over the year, I have found this to be the one that engages students and promotes discussion the most. Plus students still bring in articles and make connections from what they see to other subjects and their lives. • There are ads on the site’s sidebar which could be a distraction when students are using the site.

•

There are many links which are helpful but could at times be distracting to students navigating, however I haven’t experienced any issues with this.

4. Intended Audience and Use • The website description says the program is for middle school and high school students however, I have found that the site is useful for elementary students beginning in 3rd grade and on up. Some parts of the video could be used for lower elementary but from 3rd grade to adult it is a great resource. The third grade students at our school are using it and we are using it into the middle school grades. Last year I used it for 4th and 5th grade and students started watching it at home on days we didn’t view it in class. • CNN Student News is certainly valuable for Social Sciences but because current events involve a variety of content areas, you can make connections across and within subjects depending on the news story. • I found that CNN Student News engages students, gives them information to discuss, and brings up many questions that students are thinking about. • The video segment is a great way to start a discussion, bring into a discussion in the middle as a current event is being discussed, and it can be used to start research questions and discussion within Social Science and from other content areas. • This summer I created a blog to use to specifically have students communicate more about Current Events. After viewing the video I hope to have a question or thought for students respond to as we get into the school year to spark outside the classroom discussion. 5. Availability • CNN Student News is available on the internet, no cost or log in required at www.cnnstudentnews.com