Week 1 Overview
This week we will learn more about what a SPARK Project is, identify our own and practice using Google Docs.
What is a SPARK? - watch the video on the home page and discuss the types of passions some people have.
How can you find one if you don't have know it already? Try asking yourself these questions:
- What makes you happiest in your life? What excites you?
- Is there an issue you find yourself continuously arguing or defending with others?
- What makes you most angry about the state of the world?
- With unlimited resources how could you fix it?
- What do people thank you for?
- What are your gifts?
- Who do you look up to? Who are your mentors?
- Who inspires you? Why?
- What job would you do for free
- How would you like people to describe you?
There are also other types of SPARKS, ones that focus on a cause and community action. Watch the video below and discuss the difference between the two.
Some students create a local action about their SPARK that is designed to improve themselves and/or the community
Once you have an idea of what your SPARK Project could be about. The next step is coming up with questions to help guide what you want to find out about. For example, if you are interested in dogs, you would need to think about what you want to find out about dogs. You may ask, What breed of dog is the most agile? How many pups do most dogs have? etc.. You may also take 2 breeds and compare them. What is difference between a golden doodle and pug? Use the sheet below, or make up your own focus questions to help your research.
Introduction to Google docs video
In class we will go over how to open a doc, share, comment and basic processing.
Practice Using Google Docs
I would like every student to open a new google doc and share it with me: lindsey.watford@learn68.ca. In the doc, I would like you to tell me the topic of your SPARK project and underneath list some questions. For example, let's say I was passionate about butterflies. My questions to help focus my research could be:
TOPIC: butterflies
- what is the life-cycle of a butterfly?
- what is the migration pattern?
- How big is the biggest butterfly
- What is the difference between a butterfly and moth?
- How do butterflies help our ecosystem?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------THE AVATAR ACTIVITY MIGHT BE CHALLENGING USING OUR LEARN68 ACCOUNTS
Let's practice using google docs and get ready to start our project. Before you begin your project, I would like you to make an avatar. When you have completed that task, I would like you to choose some qualities you think you will need to successfully work through this project.
Click on the doc in the top right hand corner to open. You will need to make a copy of it, rename it and share it with me. Watch the video tutorial if you need help.
Watch this video if you need help with the instructions Preparing for your SPARK Project