About Learning Center

Resources to engage, educate and elevate.

Overview

From lessons to connection

Learning Center offers guided lessons, interactive tools and collaborative activities for learners from middle school to undergraduate university. Many lessons support US Common Core State Standards, and all build off articles published in AramcoWorld.

"They are making connections between their textbook and the world through the magazine. "
Victoria Vicente, Rio Grande High School, New Mexico, USA

Overview

What's inside

Learning Center offers distinct lessons with activities in both online and PDF formats. Lessons build off AramcoWorld articles for universal learning themes that also meets Common Core State Standards. Lessons center on reading passages as well as warm-up reading activities, visual analyses and additional exercises for those based on 15 or 30 minute constraints. Interactive drop-down reading comprehension questions and text overlay for vocabulary development enhance student learning experience.

Shared educational philosophy

Students exhibit different learning styles, each meriting recognition and opportunity to develop and mature. Strengthening writing and critical thinking skills, including the ability to immerse oneself in discussions using tools from a variety of disciplines, enhances student learning outcomes. Building on these core values, Learning Center leans into activities that engage and reward.

Learning Center serves educators and students mainly at secondary and tertiary levels. Many lessons are designed to be adapted for younger students as well as independent and home learning.

Common Core State Standards

Learning Center lessons support one or more US Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for grades 9 to 12. Through focus on critical thinking, problem-solving, analysis and other skills, CCSS helps ensure that learners are prepared for college courses and entry-level careers.

Learning Center lessons focus on guidelines within seven CCSS anchor standards.

Reading for Literature (RL)
Reading for Informational Text (RI)
Writing (W)
Speaking and Listening (SL)
Language (L)
Reading for Literacy in History/Social Studies (RH)
Writing for Literacy in History/Social Studies (WHST)
A detailed list of all CCSS guidelines incorporated in Learning Center lessons is available here.

Common Core Standards

About the authors

Julie Weiss has developed curriculum activities for AramcoWorld since Learning Center's launch in 2004 as Reader's Guide, and she has been developing social studies, English Language Arts, and ELL curricula for more than 25 years. She has written educational materials for PBS, Newsweek, Teaching Tolerance, and the California Education and the Environment Initiative, among many others. She believes that learning how to ask and answer questions is at the heart of education, and that in an information-saturated world, the ability to critically evaluate information sources is essential for students to grow to become responsible decision-makers.

Greg Timmons has taught social studies for more than 30 years at both middle and high school levels. He has written educational materials for Biography.com, Colonial Williamsburg, History.com, PBS, Scholastic, Social Studies School Service, and he has served as a consultant for several leading education groups. He believes that students exhibit different learning styles that need to be recognized and given opportunities to develop and mature, and he feels strongly about the power of thinking and writing skills for the success of students in all subject areas.

Casey Hurtt began developing curriculum activities for AramcoWorld in January of 2025. She has created projects-based curriculum as director for Livingston Montessori School and Evolving Education since 2005. She currently works as a youth and family case manager at Gulf Coast Center. She believes education should spark future generations to become life-long learners and create opportunities for students to expand their minds and world perspectives.