by Nahid Widaatalla | 15 Dec 2023 | Islam, Religion, University of Toronto Journalism Fellows
In the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s unrelenting attacks on Gaza, around the world people curious about Islam flock to their local mosque. The Gothenburg Mosque in Sweden has seen an uptick in visitors since 7 October. Credit: Andrzej Otrębski...
by Preety Sharma | 14 Dec 2023 | Health and Wellness, University of Toronto Journalism Fellows
A spiral-shaped algae is cheap and easy to grow. It’s so nutritious that NASA thinks it can power people to Mars. On earth it can keep kids healthy. Spirulina powder. (Credit: Madeleine Steinbach for Getty Images) An algae that has been around since before...
by News Decoder | 12 Dec 2023 | Education, European School Brussels, Journalism, News Decoder Updates, Realgymnasium Rämibühl Zürich, School Year Abroad, Student Posts, Tatnall School, Youth Voices
For the 14th News Decoder Storytelling Competition, the winning stories tackled human trafficking, river conservation and climate change. In its first year of working with News Decoder, the Tatnall School in the U.S. state of Delaware took both first and second prizes...
by Joyce Yang | 8 Dec 2023 | Faculty in the Spotlight, News Decoder Updates, Thacher School
Russell Spinney of The Thacher School knows teaching history means teaching humans. He wins this month’s Faculty in the Spotlight award. This feature is part of News Decoder’s Faculty Spotlight series, where we shed light on the incredible work of educators in...
by Marta Jansone | 4 Dec 2023 | Contest winners, Culture, European School Brussels, Student Posts, Youth Voices
It is hard on teens when families move to cities far away. What happens when you must move to a new country, again and again? Packed boxes in a house. Credit: Brazzo/Getty Signature Images This article, by high school student Marta Jansone, was produced out of News...
by Joyce Yang | 28 Nov 2023 | Hewitt, Journalism, News Decoder Updates, Parallel (By)Lines
Correspondent Susan Ruel sat down with student Goldie Zarabi of The Hewitt School in New York to talk journalism, objectivity and tough assignments. This feature is part of News Decoder’s Parallel (By)Lines series, where we bring a student and correspondent...
by Madison Stringer | 27 Nov 2023 | Health and Wellness, Science, University of Toronto Journalism Fellows
We pass down our eye color and baldness to our kids. It seems we also pass along health problems from bad food we consume and smoke we inhale. Two hands hold a fast food burger against the backgrop of DNA strands. Illustration by News Decoder This article was...
by Keya Dutt | 22 Aug 2023 | Contest winners, Educators' Catalog, School Year Abroad, Science, Student Posts, Youth Voices
Lots of people watch whales. But telling males and females apart and one whale from another takes special expertise. One researcher is using AI to do that. A whale leaps out of the water. Credit: Josianne Bouffard This article, by high school student Keya Dutt, was...
This piece, by youth correspondent Keya Dutt of News Decoder partner institution School Year Abroad, dives into the world of marine science and artificial intelligence. Through interviews with a veterinarian working with whales off the coast of Mozambique, the article discusses the implications of AI for experts trying to learn more about life under the sea.
Exercise: Artificial intelligence has varying effects on different groups of people. Help students adopt multiple perspectives by engaging in a “Circle of Viewpoints” activity after reading the article. In groups of five, students will each adopt a distinct persona to answer the following questions: Should artificial intelligence be allowed in secondary schools? What, if any, should be the limitations to using this tool? Personas may range from: student, school principal, parent/guardian, classroom teacher, AI developer in your local community. In each group, give students 10 minutes to independently brainstorm the pros and cons of using AI in the classroom, then 20-30 minutes to come to a consensus as a group. All groups should then share their final conclusions with the class and reflect on the process of adopting multiple perspectives.
by Karolina Krakowiak | 6 Jul 2023 | Ecologues, European School Brussels, Politics, Writing's on the Wall, Youth Voices
Young climate activists met with experts at the American Library in Paris to discuss how to protect rivers, trees, wildlife and people through legislation. The sixth Ecologues discussion featured Tim Crosland and moderator Alice McCrum, with Linda Sheehan and Irmak...
by Annette Khosravi | 2 Jun 2023 | Contest winners, Educators' Catalog, Environment, Student Posts, Tatnall School, Youth Voices
To bring a fish back from the brink of extinction, people must push for protection over pollution. An Atlantic sturgeon. (Credit: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control) This article, by high school student Annette Khosravi, was produced...
Student author Annette Khosravi from ND school partner The Tatnall School delves into the world of conservation in this piece about saving the Atlantic sturgeon. Highlighting News Decoder’s mission to connect the local to the global, this text serves as an example of how local activism may lead to widespread positive impacts.
Exercise: Ask students to look into the environmental and social organizations in your local community. What types of local groups could they contribute to? What is the broader significance of civic engagement? After completing their research, students should each come up with and present a 90-second “elevator pitch” for the organization they researched, including a specific call to action for others to get involved.