Every day you will be assigned a series of tasks to complete. This is your project, you must work on managing your time.
Remember that we must be constantly working towards our goal of solving the problem.
If you find a good resource during our research be sure to share the resource with me.
Stage 1: Researching the Problem
***At the end of your research you will be writing a research paper explaining the situation to a reader with zero background information. If you answer these questions well - the paper will be much easier to write.
Your paper will need to
Task 0: (Week 1: Goal Date: 01.10.14)
You will answer ALL future tasks in the Google Doc created. Each individual must have their own document for notes. Do not share your document with other classmates.
Double check that Mr. Hull has received your Google Doc. This is a one point assignment.
Task 1: (Week 1: Goal Date: 01.10.14)
Task 2: (Week 1: Goal Date: 01.10.14)
Task 3: (Week 1: Goal Date: 01.10.14)
This year I am hoping to help you learn how to research. Remember discount double check all your information.
Task 4: (Week 1: Goal Date: 01.10.14)
Often it is best to work backwards when researching a problem. That is why we are going to research why school safety and security is an important topic to solve.
Answer the question: why is school safety and security an important topic to solve?
***Research: When asked to research what does that mean? This is a difficult question to answer. Research always requires consuming information - this could be by reading information or watching a video or listening to an interview. The key to research is to remember that you are gathering information that will help with your final task: for this part of the project that is writing a paper. When I research I consume the information and also take short hand notes by writing the article title and source followed by a series of bullet points. The bullet points are key information I think will help me create a successful paper - these could be statistics, or facts, or even ideas that the information sparked in my own head. In addition you could write down questions that you know have. Remember be honest - do you have any questions? Do you need anything clarified or further explained?
A good resource to illustrate our districts commitment to school safety is "Message from Dr. Behlow about School Safety and Tips for Talking to Children"
Task 5: (Weekend 1: Goal Date: 01.13.14)
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Stop - Listen - Think
Reflection is important to learning. We must all look to evaluate the process as we are learning. This will help us learn how to best solve our problem.
Cross check your definition of school safety with mine. My definition of school safety: "School safety includes plans and policies to ensure students and faculty are aware of what to do during natural disasters, threats of danger, and to ensure community well being during school hours."
School safety includes the following areas:
Task 6: (Week 2: Goal Date: 01.17.14)
Do you have any questions? (If you do not - simply write Task 6: No.)
Task 7: (Week 2: Goal Date: 01.17.14)
In your Google Drive:
Do you learn more from success or failure?
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Task 8: (Week 2: Goal Date: 01.17.14)
BE SURE TO SHARE ANY GOOD RESOURCES YOU FIND WITH ME. THANKS.
Task 9: (Week 2: Goal Date: 01.17.14)
In your Google Drive:
Define: the word role
Answer the questions below in your Google Drive based upon your opinion if you want help or information please check out this site here:
Overview Task 10: (Week 2: Goal Date: 01.17.14)
Let us review the key goals of Project Citizen:
Discussion: Do you have any questions? At the end of the project we should be able to cross off each goal. Questions are key. Write for Task 10 any questions you have.
Task 11: (Week 2: Goal Date: 01.17.14)
Research is time consuming and difficult. If it were easy it would already be completed. Remember "to learn is an action that requires effort."
Thought Provoking Optional Task: (Week 2: Goal Date: 01.17.14)
Balance between safety/security and freedom - this social studies essential question is my favorite.
Many movies are about this topic - V for Vendetta (rated R - too mature) examines this role of government.
*In your Google Drive answer:
Additional BONUS (Optional Task) :
Read an article (or many) that investigate the topic of security vs freedom:
Week 2 Check In Task: (Week 2: Goal Date: 01.17.13)
In an email to chull@nssd112.org OR by raising your hand -
Task 13: (Week 3: Goal Date: 01.24.14)
Descriptive writing is an important component in writing and more importantly persuasive writing.
When evaluating and reflecting your work - examine your answers to the basic questions. Be sure your answers are all descriptive. The next step is being comprehensive AND concise. Work to make your writing better through the writing process.
Sample answer:
Elm Place Middle School located north of Chicago at 2031 Sheridan Rd Highland Park Il is a sixth through eighth grade suburban school with 474 students and 43 teachers.
Task 14: (Week 3: Goal Date: 01.24.14)
In your Google Drive answer:
***Remember to define each groups role and be highly descriptive
Task Discount Double Check Google Search Knowledge:
Check out the infographic "Get More out of Google" then click where the box where it says "Get More out of Google"
Answer in your Google drive:
Task 15: (Week 3: Goal Date: 01.24.14)
In your Google Drive answer:
We also need to describe how often Project Citizen occurs and what Project Citizen is.
Copy the following into your Google Drive:
"Mr. Hull has had his class participate in Project Citizen for the past 7 years. His predecessor, Cheryl Levi, also participated in Project Citizen. Project Citizen is a five step process that relies on effort and teamwork. Each class works cooperatively to identify a public policy problem in their community. They then research the problem, evaluate alternative solutions, develop their own solution in the form of a public policy, and create a political action plan to enlist local or state authorities to adopt their proposed policy."
Task 16: (Week 3: Goal Date: 01.24.14)
In your Google Drive answer:
We need to investigate the current policies of Elm Place surrounding the following concepts but first describe your understanding of the rules for each bullet point BEFORE you research
Task 17: (Week 3: Goal Date: 01.24.14)
We need to be able to describe the situation clearly for the "what" basic question.
Summarize and provide a description with key research for the topics below (see Mr. Hull to discover how many topics you must cover)
***After you finish two topics check in with Mr. Hull before advancing to task 18.
Task 18: (Week 3: Goal Date: 01.24.14)
Understanding the current policy. Often times the policies created to stop a problem are difficult to understand. This is a very difficult task, YOU MUST take your time, read carefully and ask questions.
Week 3 Check In Task: (Week 3: Goal Date: 01.24.13)
In an email to chull@nssd112.org OR by raising your hand -
Bonus Task:
In your Google Drive:
Discussion Task as a Class: (at some point during Week 3 we will discuss these questions)
In your Google Drive write brief notes for the following question
Has Bullying stopped at Elm Place? For 3 years this topic has been investigated with several policies put in place do you see a difference?
Task 19 : (Week 3: Goal Date: 01.24.13)
In your Google Drive:
Task 20:
Research and find any additional articles you need to explain the problem. Fill in any gaps you may have.
Final Task - Stage 1 - Due 02.07 (if you work hard 02.10 or if you are perfect 02.14)
Write your research paper describing the school safety situation at Elm Place.
See Project Citizen Paper Guidelines.
You may need to do additional research as you write your paper to fill in gaps.
Random Sites:
Statistics: School Safety Fast Facts
Bonus interview an expert must schedule with Mr. Hull: (3 Rec Points)
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Stage 2 and 3: Brainstorming and evaluating possible solutions
Optional Task: (Bonus)
Today we will begin to work on brainstorming by examining a few websites - hopefully these last few tasks will help us create solutions to solve the problem at Elm Place
See the links at the bottom of the page for the current Elm Place concussion policies.
Task A. Understanding Evaluation and Assessment
Are there checklists for us to use to help our evaluation?
Task B. Understanding Feasibility
Copy this and then re-write in your own words in your Google Drive Notes:
Feasibility is a complicated term and concept that can be easier understood if you breakdown the word into three parts
Task C. Brainstorming and evaluating your solutions
Step 1 to Task C: Brainstorm ways to solve the problem. These are your ideas that will help fight the problem. Create a list of possible ideas to solve the problem. You should have a lengthy list.
Step 2 to Task C: Begin to evaluate the solutions that have been brainstormed.
To evaluate solutions you must complete the following questions in your Google Doc.
6. What is the feasibility of each of your solutions? Research to support and explain all of your answers
a. Analyze the cost ($$$)
b. How effective would the plan be? (+ / -)
c. How easily/difficult would the problem be to implement? (E / d)
Task D: Considering outside solutions: