We Make Our Path by Walking
High Tech High Media Arts
11th Grade Humanities 2014-2015
Instructor: Randy Scherer
rscherer@hightechhigh.org
http://dp.hightechhigh.org/~rscherer
Tutoring & Support: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:30 to 4:30pm and lunches by appointment.
Welcome to "We make our path by walking"—our co-designed humanities experience. Together, we will create projects that require deep, critical thinking skills, in-depth collaboration, original social science research, and important communication skills.
Academically, this class will integrate United States and world history, literature, art and music to develop students' understanding of the birth, growth and development of the United States of America. We will examine the social, political, literary, and artistic events that shaped American culture as well as investigate historical and modern societies through research-based assignments and projects. In addition to exploring humanities and social science content and skills, this class will support interdisciplinary projects that integrate math, biology, multimedia, and/or engineering.
Essential Questions: Throughout the year, we will address the following questions:
1. How does our understanding of the past influence the decisions we make in the present and future?
2. What is American culture and how is, or was, it created?
3. How did the United States of America become what it is today and what might it become in the future?
Expectations: Eat healthy meals (especially breakfast!). Get plenty of rest. Come to class and be fully present, ready to participate, listen, think, and create.
Suggested Materials: Students are recommended to bring a three-ring binder with dividers, a journal, a planner, paper, pens, pencils and a library card. If any classroom material ever presents a financial difficulty, please see a teacher (or another faculty member, such as the student's advisor) as soon as possible so alternative arrangements can be made.
Assessment: Grades are earned by participating fully in class and completing high quality assignments in a timely manner. Students will be challenged to set high goals, work hard, exhibit growth as a student and community member, and demonstrate mastery of important content and skills. Final grades are determined through an evidence-based reflective process between the student and teacher.
Academic Policies: We will follow the school policies in the HTHMA handbook—please see that for details regarding plagiarism, discipline, etc. One additional note: be prepared for technical difficulties. Save your work, back it up and leave yourself extra time—those three ideas consistently work wonders.
Absences: Classroom experiences are unique moments that depend on many variables and directly affect productivity. Absent students must complete missing work or alternative assignments at the instructor's discretion. When a student knows he/she will be absent, alternative arrangements should be made in advance. Honors projects, exhibitions and presentations are time-sensitive and cannot be significantly altered. Absent students should communicate with the teacher as soon as possible!
Homework & Class Work: Productive learning requires that we do a variety of forms of work outside of class on a daily basis. Homework is due at the start of the school day or at the teacher's discretion. All printing must be complete before class starts.
Late Work: Late work is unacceptable—but at one point or another, everyone needs a little help. The key to doing well with deadlines is to communicate early and often with your teacher. We can always work something out if you speak up in advance, while apologies and negotiations after the fact are rarely productive (or enjoyable). In nearly all cases, the value of late work is determined by the role that work plays in the overall project, the student's learning, and the context of the class. Therefore, late work is accepted at the teacher's discretion. Late submission of major assignments and/or projects will result in a decreased grade at the teacher's discretion. Alternative assignments may be assigned and standard assignments eliminated at the teacher’s discretion. Work submitted late may possibly be eliminated from an exhibition.
Reading Material: An extensive list of reading material is posted under the Resources section of my Digital Portfolio at http://dp.hightechhigh.org/~rscherer/. You should be reading something interesting and challenging every day. If you are ever in need of a good book (or a good magazine or website), see me and I will assist. Additional reading is required of all Honors students and it is a great way to fulfill challenge agreements.
Challenge Agreements: Individualized for each assignment and project, Challenge Agreements offer students the opportunity to go beyond the typical guidelines of their work at school. Students may earn Honors Credit, additional credit, and/or gain the opportunity to be more creative, striving for higher expectations through individual Challenge Agreements.
Honors Credit: Students may earn Honors Credit by completing Challenge Agreements, Honors Reading, and Honors Assignments. Please consult the Honors Syllabus for more details.
One last request: Students, please shift your focus away from grades. The highest priority for you is to maximize your learning. If you follow this philosophy, good grades will naturally follow. Be honest. Work hard. Ask for help.
Honors Syllabus—11th grade humanities, Spring 2015
The honors experience is intended for students to make the most of this class and to learn as much as possible during our time together by creating avenues for exceptional growth. This may mean that we offer credit and recognition for those who take on significant challenges or show remarkable progress. It may mean that we help students succeed in academic risks and we foster creativity. This may also mean that we create opportunities for students to go beyond ordinary class expectations in a variety of ways.
Required Honors Activities
· Maintain an honors portfolio
· Complete all honors reading & writing assignments
· Attend all honors meetings
· Assume a leadership role in class projects
Honors Reading
Choose three (3) significant books or selections that cover at least two (2) of the following genres:
· Literature
· Nonfiction
· Poetry
· Plays or Theater
Honors Writing
Students will create and share a plan to grow as a writer. Plans must be critiqued and approved by peers and your teacher before the end of February, and students must curate their writing in their honors portfolio, with reflections on challenges, successes, and growth.
Important Deadlines
Signed honors syllabi must be returned to class before Thursday, Feb. 12
Your first honors book should be in class by Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Honors portfolios will be checked on March 13, May 1 and June 11.
Suggested Honors Leadership Roles, Projects or Activities
· Layout & design for a class publication,
· Take on a significant role as an editor of a class publication,
· Form a book club or literature group with other students and meet regularly in class,
· Form an SAT study group with other students and meet regularly in class,
· Plan & lead a small group trip to relevant academic, cultural or historical events in the community.
Deadlines & Technicalities
Honors students must opt in before September 12, and honors rosters may not change after that point. Honors assignments are graded and have the potential to have a significant impact on a student's final grade.
Please print, sign & date the honors syllabus & return it to class by Feb. 12 to be part of the honors roster.