Illustrating ideas with current events engages students and enlivens the classroom. Real-world applications motivate otherwise apathetic students to learn course concepts that can help them interpret interesting events in the world around them.

In most cases, article delivery is as simple as providing a hyperlink for students through email or a web page. Compiling a few recall questions about the article in a quick quiz or online homework assignment ensures that most students will do the reading, creating the necessary conditions for lively classroom discussion. In more detailed chapter assignments or exam questions, students can apply the subject at hand to current events that prove to be particularly relevant.

Searching for free web-based articles that apply to your course can be immensely time consuming. The Aplia content team has come to rely on several free, web-based news publications as a source of reliable articles. Below I've listed several go-to sources.

The New York Times — www.nytimes.com

Slate — www.slate.com

Project Syndicate — www.project-syndicate.org

The Washington Post — www.washingtonpost.com

Bloomberg — www.bloomberg.com

National Public Radio — www.npr.org

Marketplace Radio — marketplace.publicradio.org

We're always interested in suggestions for web-based news sources and innovative ways to bring current events into the curriculum. Please feel free to get in touch with me with suggestions or questions: bfuller@aplia.com.