The Learning Network is a subsection of The New York Times Website that offers stories organized specifically for educational purposes.
The idea is to offer a selection of learning resources for teachers that can be used as part of an educational exploration beyond the usual set of tools.
From lesson plans and writing prompts to quizzes and videos, there are many different types of tools available to help teach across subject areas.
Since all of this is already online, it makes it easy to access from almost any device, in class and beyond. This guide aims to lay out everything you need to know about The Learning Network for educational use.
What is the Learning Network?
The learning network is a selection of information resources organized so that they are useful to teachers in an educational setting.
The Learning Network is a subsection of The New York Times so it includes many stories already on the website, but also features those more specifically related to teaching. In any case, it is organized into sections that can make it easier for teachers to get what they need to present a certain topic or even just try something new.
Since this is a powerful current news outlet, you can expect the content to be regularly updated, have relevant features, be factually accurate, and generally be of the highest quality.
This platform is a powerful place to develop reading, writing, and critical thinking skills for different ages.
How does The Learning Network work?
Learning Network is available online and can be accessed immediately without registration or payment.
Learning Network offers up-to-date features and stories right on the home page. A selection of navigation options designed to make it easier for educators to find resources is also available.
Sections of the site relevant to educators include: “How to Use this Site,” “Lesson Plans,” “Writing Tips,” “Quizzes and Vocabulary,” “Photos, Graphics, and Videos,” and “Contests.” Considering this is all free, there are plenty of resources available right there.
The search bar is particularly useful, which is ideal if you want to find articles on a specific topic right away.
What are the best features of Learning Network?
Learning Network is designed like a standard news website, making it easy to navigate but also useful for teaching students how to find resources on this and any news website.
Learning Network offers training for teachers, in the form of live and on-demand webinars, that help guide them on the ways in which the many resources can be used to teach classes. Tools like a lesson of the day and an archive of previous lessons make using the resources on this website quick and easy while saving you time. It can also be a great way for students to access the site on their own time.
The student opinion blog is a useful area that allows anyone over the age of 13 to express their opinions on a variety of topics. This is usually presented to directly comment on the news of the day being shared.
Accessible activities, helpful writing prompts, quizzes, and contests add to the wide variety of useful resources this website offers.
How much does The Learning Network cost?
The Learning Network is a free use resources provided by The New York Times. It's a free offer, but it comes from a subscription-based news organization, so if you'd like to make a contribution you can easily do so.
Top Learning Network Tips and Tricks
start the day
Take advantage of this news resource to start the lesson or day with a timely story that can spark discussion or frame the day around current issues.
Word of the day
Use the word of the day section to teach a new word and explore its meanings and links to what might be happening in class that day.
Get visual
Share the images and videos to talk as a group about what is happening in the images and how they feel about what they are seeing.
