Take a look inside 4 images
Virtual Republic
Pros: Articles are written with students in mind, and discussions encourage kids to be informed and active citizens in their communities.
Cons: Text-based content may limit access for struggling readers and ELLs.
Bottom Line: A free, easy-to-use online forum for students to learn about, discuss, and explore solutions to current issues.
With a free account, teachers can set up a class and get started. Take time to share the site with your class, and then students can explore it on their own. The entire class can focus on one issue and create policy statements for discussion and action, or, as an alternative, small groups or individuals can learn about different issues. Students will need access to their own devices to read the articles and post comments. Teachers may want to develop assignments or lessons to accompany the site; for example, students could create multimedia presentations about what they learned or write research papers in which they use the site content as reference material. The site is a great fit for a current events or debate class, and it could also be used in any subject area to incorporate current issues as a supplement to the core curriculum.
Virtual Republic is a free site that provides a forum for students to learn about and discuss solutions to current issues. Part of the Colonial Williamsburg educator resources, this website can be used as a companion to the Idea of America digital curriculum or as a stand-alone resource. Teachers register for a free account and set up classes where students can participate in activities like debates and discussions over current events. Issues are sorted by topic, case study, or date. Each issue page includes a short article on the issue and links to additional content, including how the issue relates to you, and current and past policy. Additionally, there are policy solutions and proposed actions that encourage online discussions and civic involvement. The discussions are monitored, and students and teachers must follow rules of engagement as they post comments to the site.
Virtual Republic is a valuable tool for informing students about current events and how they have a role in addressing key issues facing the world and their communities. The site is easy to navigate, and the articles are written for a high school audience. The focus on how each issue relates to “you” emphasizes personal connections and responsibility, which should increase student interest and learning. The structured approach to making policy statements and comments is a useful format for students to practice as they engage in thoughtful discussion on each issue. The content on the site is primarily text-based, and teachers may need to supplement with multimedia to increase access to the information for all learners. Finally, there's an extensive list of organizations that can be used to get students involved in their communities -- a great resource to help kids take the next step and take action.
Learning Rating
Explore Our Favorite Tools
