Steps & Teacher Directions:

1. Review vocabulary.

2. Tell students that today they will be learning about statistical data on success outcomes of SES people in higher learning, and some current policies within the US to address these issues. After that, you will discuss these policies to express likes, dislikes, why they agree or disagree with their approach.

Steps & Teacher Directions:

Activity Preparation: 

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

→  Discuss the importance of intonation in conveying information clearly and effectively. 

→  Give a brief example of a sentence read with neutral intonation versus varied intonation to highlight differences in meaning and engagement.

Group Assignment (2 minutes)

→  Divide students into small groups.

→  Hand out different NCES data printouts to each group.

Data Analysis (5 minutes)

→  Each group analyzes their data. Encourage students to discuss:

→  What does the data show?

→  Why is this data significant?

→  How might this information impact students or educational policy?

Preparation (3 minutes)

→  Each group prepares a short presentation of their findings. Instruct them to focus on using effective intonation to emphasize key points and make their presentation engaging.

→  Remind them to practice phrases like, “Interestingly, the data reveals…” or “A surprising finding was…”

Presentations (5 minutes)

→  Groups take turns presenting their data to the class.

→  Encourage the use of clear intonation patterns to stress important statistics and conclusions.

Feedback and Discussion (5 minutes)

→  After each presentation, provide specific feedback on intonation and stress.

→  Discuss how different intonation patterns can change the listener’s perception of the information.

Intonation Activity: SES National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

Introduction to Data

Teacher Direction

→  Begin by asking students if they’ve seen or worked with any data regarding education and socioeconomic status before. Invite a few responses to gauge their prior exposure and understanding.

Transition to Data Presentation

→  Explain that today, they will look at specific data that illustrates some statistics on the impacts of higher education completion across various socioeconomic groups. View video on post secondary education attainment and SES.

Discussion

→  Discuss the difference in college attendance rates between different socioeconomic quartiles.

→  Compare graduation rates among students from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Guided Analysis

→ Guide students through the analysis by asking specific questions about the data. For example:

→ “What trends do you notice about the relationship between socioeconomic status and college graduation rates?”

→ “How do economic factors appear to influence educational success based on this data?”

Activity 

→  Allow students to discuss in small groups and come up with their interpretations supported by the data.

Wrap-Up of Data Analysis

→  Teacher Direction: Summarize the key findings from the data and reiterate how these trends might affect individuals’ educational paths and future economic opportunities.

→  Closure: Transition to the next part of the lesson where students will discuss these impacts in more depth and begin to think about possible solutions.

** After discussing the data, ask a few questions to ensure students have grasped the key concepts and can apply their understanding analytically.

Example CCQs:

1. “Which socioeconomic group shows the highest rate of college attendance and why might that be?”

2. “How does the data suggest socioeconomic status impact post-graduation success?”

Steps & Teacher Directions:

Introduction & Review of Opportunities (5 minutes)

Teacher Directions

Briefly introduce the concept of socioeconomic status and its impact on access to higher education. Explain that the class will explore specific opportunities that aim to support SES students in accessing graduate and postgraduate studies in the United States. Present a quick overview of the top five opportunities available for SES students to pursue higher education:

→  Pell Grants: Primarily for undergraduates but can influence decisions on graduate education.

→  Fulbright Scholarships: Offers grants for graduate students to study, research, and teach abroad.

→  National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP): Supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines.

→  Ronald E. McNair Post baccalaureate Achievement Program: Prepares undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities.

→  Gates Millennium Scholars Program: Funds graduate degrees in certain fields for outstanding minority students

→  Distribute handouts or share digital slides with detailed information on each program.

Group Breakout Session (20 minutes)

Teacher Directions:

→  Divide the class into five groups, assigning each group one of the opportunities to analyze.

→  Instruct groups to discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their assigned opportunity. Consider factors like accessibility, potential impact, scope, and limitations.

→  Groups should use the provided materials to start their discussion but may also use online resources to supplement their findings.

Group Presentations (10 minutes)

Teacher Directions:

→  Have each group present their findings to the class. Encourage them to clearly articulate the benefits and potential drawbacks of the opportunity they analyzed.

→  Prompt other students to ask questions and provide feedback to ensure a comprehensive understanding of each opportunity.

Wrap-Up Discussion (5 minutes)

Teacher Directions:

→  Lead a brief discussion summarizing the insights gained from each group.

→  Ask students to reflect on how these opportunities can be improved to better support SES students.

Steps & Teacher Directions:

Introduction

Briefly introduce the purpose of the innovation workshop, which is to improve upon existing strategies discussed in the previous activity, or come up with potential new ones. Ask the students to imagine that power was granted to the classroom to propose one amendment or alternative solution to SES disparity in the US. Only one would be selected, so each group must think carefully and consider strengths and limitations to their ideas; encourage students to think creatively and focus on practical solutions that address the limitations identified in the previous discussion.

Group Brainstorming Session

Have students regroup or continue in their existing groups from the previous activity (use your judgment depending on the group’s dynamic from the previous activity). Provide each group with blank paper, markers, and any additional craft materials they might use for creating visual aids. Instruct groups to brainstorm new ideas or improvements for their assigned strategy. Emphasize that while they can use drawings to support their ideas, the focus should be on clearly articulating their proposals verbally.

→ Development of Proposals:

→ Walk around and listen to their discussion. Guide the students to refine their brainstormed ideas into a cohesive proposal. Ask them to consider practical aspects like feasibility, cost, and potential impact.

Group Presentations

Allocate a few minutes for each group to present their innovative strategy to the class. Encourage the use of persuasive language and clear explanations to convey their ideas effectively.

→ Activity: Other students are encouraged to ask questions or provide constructive feedback, fostering a dynamic and interactive discussion.

Feedback and Evaluation

→ Provide immediate feedback on each group’s presentation, focusing on the clarity of their communication, the creativity of their proposals, and how well they addressed the limitations of the original strategy.

→ Example Feedback Points:

1. “How clearly did the group explain their proposed solution?”

2. “What innovative elements did the proposal include?”

3. “How realistically could this solution be implemented?”

Wrap-Up and Reflection

Conclude the workshop by summarizing the most promising ideas and highlighting the importance of innovation in solving real-world problems.

→ Closure: Ask students to reflect on what they learned from the activity and how they can apply these skills in other areas of their studies or future careers.

→ Bonus note: Have the students vote in the classroom on their favorite proposal.

Impacts-of-Higher-Education-Completion-Across-Socioeconomic-Groups

Navigating-Graduate-Education-Funding-Top-5-Programs

Key-Concepts.pptx

Understanding-the-Role-of-Intonation-in-Communication.pptx