Government

Why do we need a government?

How does our government work?

What is our role in the government?

Dear Students,

This semester we will be using discovery-approach learning. What does that mean? It means that you are in control of your own learning. For each unit you will receive a driving question and a set of project requirements. Throughout the unit, you will work with a team to research, collaborate, develop, and design. In the process, you will learn!

My role as your teacher will be to provide support when needed, but the goal is for you to control the learning process. Success in the real world demands that you can tackle problems through initiative and resourcefulness. Discovery approach learning will help you become masters of initiative and resourcefulness.

How will it work?

Step 1: Project Launch

    • As a class we will discuss a major idea or trend. This will be the launch of our discovery process and will give you a starting point for learning.

Step 2: Driving Question and Challenge Brief

    • Each project will be focused on answering a driving question that is based on a real-world problem or issue. The challenge brief explains the project requirements for the final product that will showcase your answer the driving question. The goal of the discovery process is to answer the driving question through your group work.

Step 3: Team Plan

    • You will be paired with team members. Sometimes this means you choose your own team, but sometimes I will choose your team. As a group you will establish a plan for answering the driving question and meeting the project requirements, including establishing individual roles and tasks.

Step 4: Team Collaboration

    • This is the meat of the discovery learning process. Team collaboration allows your group time to tackle the tasks in your project plan and assist each other in answering the driving question. During this time I will be there to provide workshops in case your team needs additional support.

Step 5: Critique

    • During the team collaboration step, your work will be critiqued by your team members, by me, and by other teams so that along the way you develop your best work and learn from others.

Step 6: Presentation

    • Your team will showcase its final product based on the project requirements. This is your time to show how you answer the driving question and your understanding of the research involved.

How will you be graded during this process?

Individual Grades

Group Grades

    • Soft Skills Assessment (based on rubric)*

    • Answers to research questions

    • Formative assessments (during the project)

    • Project reflection

    • Summative assessments (after the project)*

    • Checkpoints

    • Project product and presentation*

*Any plagiarized work will receive a zero.

Absences and Make-Up Work: If you miss a day of class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. Assignments and class calendars will be posted on the course website. Any assignments that were due the day your were absent are to turned in the class period you return. For each do you are absent you will receive one school day to turn in homework and class work missed.

**Late assignments will receive a maximum of half credit.

Tutorials: By appointment

A note about internet capabilities:

I realize that not every student has internet access at home; however, CWSHS has convenient resources for computer usage. The most important things to remember: don’t wait until the last minute and plan for emergencies (malfunctions). Plan ahead.

*major grade

PROJECT RUBRIC

Student expectations:

Since you are part of a team, it is important that you become a strong team member. This means that you:

    1. Arrive to class on time.

    2. Bring with you all the required materials to work with your team.

    3. Manage your class time wisely. (Finishing the work outside of class is not an option. Class time is team time and should be used accordingly.)

    4. Settle conflict in a respectful way.

    5. Do your equal share in the project and communicate with your team.

What can you expect from me?

As your teacher I promise to:

    1. Hold you to a high standard and accept only your best effort.

    2. Support you in the learning process.

    3. Treat you fairly and with respect.

So let’s begin the discovery process!

Grading Policy: