This is an online book which discusses the problem of lethal school violence, a study the authors conducted using case studies, conclusions, and prevention tips. There are also links buy this and other books on related topics. You can also buy and download a PDF of the entire book, just a chapter, or just the executive summary. It is thoroughly cross referenced and searchable.
Type of Material:
Online book
Recommended Uses:
Inclass discussion, team assignments, homework, lecture
Technical Requirements:
Browser
Identify Major Learning Goals:
-Explore case studies in school violence.
-Discuss the impact of mental illness on school violence.
-Describe the behaviors of copycats.
-Summarize the factors associated with rampage shootings.
-Summarize best practices inpreventing and responding to school violence.
Target Student Population:
Post secondarystudents and professionals in education, law enforcement, first responders, and youth services.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Basic computer skills
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
It provides very good information on the topic of lethal school violence. The reference material shows that some highly regarded experts/studies are discussed in the book. The executive summary provides a good synopsis of the material included in the book. It is well organized and indexed for easy searching
Concerns:
My concerns echo those of other criminologists in that the media frenzy and created crime wave surrounding these events led to an unnecessary level of control in our schools. It also dismissed this issue that this type of violence wasnt investigated until it began occurring in the suburbs. Finally, increasingly harsh penalties for violence committed by our nations youth are, at least in part, due to the media attention on these cases and the resultant view by the public that juvenile violence was growing exponentially. The authors do not spend time discussing these issues, and instead, adds fodder to them. This issue has thankfully died down in the last few years and this book is no longer especially relevant.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Instructors who share the views of the issue could use this as a free text for their online students. They could also assign shorter readings for students like a specific chapter or just the executive summary. The book Succinctly presents the diverse interests and responses of multiple actors involved in, or subject to, school violence.
Concerns:
I cant see that an instructor who is well-versed in current views on juvenile violence would use this text for anything but a discussion of the problems associated with the media creating the publics views on crime policies.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Students could use the site to search the book, Web, or specific sections for keywords. The site is easily navigated and clearly laid out.
Concerns:
There are no associated materials along with the book. It doesnt appear that the online version is formatted for students with disabilities. Also, it may not appeal to students accustomed to more interactivity or more visually appealing media.
Creative Commons:
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