The focus of today's meeting was next year...
how to take the program to the next level.
Here were the major ideas discussed:
1. We need to work on the schedule first, and the overview of the program second.
2. Nmuta will work on starting the schedule
3. Nmuta will work on the project manual (this summer)
4. Pascal and Tre will help start putting the Program Overview together.
5. Focus on short (two week) projects in general. The project manual will have a detailed, step by step
description of how to execute a project.
6. We are strongly considering BRINGING BACK MAJORS to New Media. But before we know this, we need to know what type
of resources we have in terms of Lincoln Interactive and other tech staff.
-----------
I am excited to have our whole tech team returning in the fall. Tre, Shoana (for four months) and Pascal all
are slated to return this fall. Our next major goal is the marriage between outstanding technology and rigorous content.
The content part is not a small issue, as it speaks to a much larger, systemic issue of rigor in academics for public school children
who have not been used to that much rigor at all in the past, and who have certain deficiencies that we need to address. Of course, this is all stating
the obvious, but we have our work cut out for us this coming year.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
New Media's New Curriculum
In 1969, Brown University introduced what they called "The New Curriculum". Brown's "New Curriculum" was designed to revolutionize the learning process by encouraging students to take more academic risk without fear of these risks affecting their GPA.
Amongst other things, the NEW CURRICULUM also helped usher in the era of independent concentrations and a more project-based approach to learning.
New Media Technology Charter School is on verge of unleashing its own NEW CURRICULUM this fall. In addition to the great impact the new schedule will have, there is another new development that will serve as a catalyst to the project based learning process at New Media, and this is the development of New Media TV.
After observing project based initiatives at several schools over the years, I have come to the following observation:
Contrived projects don't work.
Well, sometimes they do. With choice students and ideal advisors under certain circumstances. The problem is that arbitrary deadlines for projects with no or little real world connection create a culture where students don't understand the need to meet deadlines.
My full intent is to follow through with the technology team's declaration to make New Media TV the central delivery mechanism for all project work next year.
The reasons for this are numerous:
Our next step is to sit down as a team and work out the details of the schedule, and how to provide the support for this new schedule to work. I suggest we be the first team to address the issue, because we need the projects and the technology to be the central piece of the curriculum around which everything else is built.
Amongst other things, the NEW CURRICULUM also helped usher in the era of independent concentrations and a more project-based approach to learning.
New Media Technology Charter School is on verge of unleashing its own NEW CURRICULUM this fall. In addition to the great impact the new schedule will have, there is another new development that will serve as a catalyst to the project based learning process at New Media, and this is the development of New Media TV.
After observing project based initiatives at several schools over the years, I have come to the following observation:
Contrived projects don't work.
Well, sometimes they do. With choice students and ideal advisors under certain circumstances. The problem is that arbitrary deadlines for projects with no or little real world connection create a culture where students don't understand the need to meet deadlines.
My full intent is to follow through with the technology team's declaration to make New Media TV the central delivery mechanism for all project work next year.
The reasons for this are numerous:
- Short projects are best for the amateur and intermediate level students.
- Having an 'Broadcast deadine' (i.e. "Your show will air next week, tuesday at 11 a.m.") provides a tangible, non negotiable deadline for our students.
- Students know that their project is "for real" because it will be seen by hundreds or possibly thousands of viewers.
- The incentive to do well is fueled by public exposure.
- The incentive to learn the technology will be fueled by the desire to look good on TV
- Pressure is put on the advisors to support their students, since work broadcasted on the station will be a reflection of them as well.
- The station will help us to define our identity in the community as a high school.
Our next step is to sit down as a team and work out the details of the schedule, and how to provide the support for this new schedule to work. I suggest we be the first team to address the issue, because we need the projects and the technology to be the central piece of the curriculum around which everything else is built.
Senior Exhibitions
Senior Exhibitions ran from Monday, May 5th to Monday, May 12th, 2008.
I attended all of them with the exception of Tuesday morning, May 6th, and a few others on Monday, May 6th due to time spent helping a few seniors with last minute glitches which required me to run to 7800 to fix, and in one instance, having to help a senior re-create a project that had been accidentally damaged.
Overall, the level of academic rigor was not up to the New Media Standard of what we're looking for in a senior project. However, there were a few bright stars in the bunch, and overall, the work was BETTER than the work we're used to seeing from many of the students, especially those with a history of low performance academically.
Many of the issues with academic rigor are the result of students not getting ample input from multiple academic advisors. In this case, that is especially true in the areas of English/Language Arts and Math.
As I told Dr. Walker, many of these issues will not be as acute when we are in the new building, because the senior classes henceforth will be more integrated into the larger NMTCS community and will have more access to the resources of the school.
As it stands now, two senior student groups will be presenting in our May 28th Exhibition Night: Justina Ray & Rhonda Bartlett, and Tierra Jones.
I attended all of them with the exception of Tuesday morning, May 6th, and a few others on Monday, May 6th due to time spent helping a few seniors with last minute glitches which required me to run to 7800 to fix, and in one instance, having to help a senior re-create a project that had been accidentally damaged.
Overall, the level of academic rigor was not up to the New Media Standard of what we're looking for in a senior project. However, there were a few bright stars in the bunch, and overall, the work was BETTER than the work we're used to seeing from many of the students, especially those with a history of low performance academically.
Many of the issues with academic rigor are the result of students not getting ample input from multiple academic advisors. In this case, that is especially true in the areas of English/Language Arts and Math.
As I told Dr. Walker, many of these issues will not be as acute when we are in the new building, because the senior classes henceforth will be more integrated into the larger NMTCS community and will have more access to the resources of the school.
As it stands now, two senior student groups will be presenting in our May 28th Exhibition Night: Justina Ray & Rhonda Bartlett, and Tierra Jones.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Update
1. This week, we began formal, Act 48 credit worthy multimedia classes for staff. The course overview list is on our server here:
http://www.newmediatech.net/Act48/CurriculumGuide.doc
Marcelin, Tre, and I are the teachers. The course is every Wednesday , two hours each Wednesday from 1-3 pm during professional development. We each have syllabuses for our classes available upon request.
The courses being offered are PHOTOSHOP, WEB DESIGN, and VIDEO EDITING.
After the four weeks of classes, staff will then be using those 2 hours every week to complete their digital multimedia projects that were due at the beginning of the year. It would be nice to require staff to bring any work they've done for the project to contract renewals.
2. I had a good meeting with Shoana today, I asked her when we can get the High School website together, she said she can start working on it toward the end of next week. She also suggested that blogs would work better for the home page announcement system and I fully agree with this. The blogs are prettier and they allow the user to see news "right away" instead of having to click on the links.
3. I have agreed to speak at the Middle School Open house this weekend.
4. I am excited about May 3rd and looking forward to interviewing staff for next year. I am in the process of getting student content together for that event.
5. I need to confirm travel and lodging arrangements for the National Charter School conference with Dr. Walker. I am really pushing for them to also host a student coming. I would love for one of our students to present at the conference. I will follow up on this with Leslie Talbot, who is organizing our involvement in the conference.
6. I am encouraged to see that many classes are regularly using Blogging to track student records. Today I observed several 9th and 11th graders using and their blogs but also going to their advisor's blogs to get assignments. Additionally, I observed students who are using the "networking" system to build networks with all of their teacher's blogs.
http://www.newmediatech.net/Act48/CurriculumGuide.doc
Marcelin, Tre, and I are the teachers. The course is every Wednesday , two hours each Wednesday from 1-3 pm during professional development. We each have syllabuses for our classes available upon request.
The courses being offered are PHOTOSHOP, WEB DESIGN, and VIDEO EDITING.
After the four weeks of classes, staff will then be using those 2 hours every week to complete their digital multimedia projects that were due at the beginning of the year. It would be nice to require staff to bring any work they've done for the project to contract renewals.
2. I had a good meeting with Shoana today, I asked her when we can get the High School website together, she said she can start working on it toward the end of next week. She also suggested that blogs would work better for the home page announcement system and I fully agree with this. The blogs are prettier and they allow the user to see news "right away" instead of having to click on the links.
3. I have agreed to speak at the Middle School Open house this weekend.
4. I am excited about May 3rd and looking forward to interviewing staff for next year. I am in the process of getting student content together for that event.
5. I need to confirm travel and lodging arrangements for the National Charter School conference with Dr. Walker. I am really pushing for them to also host a student coming. I would love for one of our students to present at the conference. I will follow up on this with Leslie Talbot, who is organizing our involvement in the conference.
6. I am encouraged to see that many classes are regularly using Blogging to track student records. Today I observed several 9th and 11th graders using and their blogs but also going to their advisor's blogs to get assignments. Additionally, I observed students who are using the "networking" system to build networks with all of their teacher's blogs.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Finishing strong
I want to publicly thank the entire tech staff team for making our second Student Exhibition Night a success. Its very evident that a great amount of teamwork is in effect, as many people contributed their efforts to help the students show their work.
Project authenticity is at an all time high in the sense that the work reflects where the students are academically and technologically. Many students worked diligently on their projects with a small team or even alone, so I was often surprised to see their work after they emerged from their respective "labs" (at home, in the classroom, etc. ).
Of those advisors whose students presented, James , Meghan, and Michelle in particular have been working for long protracted periods with their students on the project and have a good amount of accumulated work. Others in this category, from my observation, include Shakae, Joseph, and Karla.
Tech staff did an outstanding job; Pascal, Tre, Jo Goins and Shoana all provided a great deal of support for the students they are involved with.
LOOKING FORWARD:
We still have a long way to go, and we have to figure out how to make the most of the current situation given our existing schedule and resource limitations.
There are a myriad of things I am personally involved with and would like to address before the year is over and I will have to prioritize them. These items are:
1. Working with the seniors to support them with
3. Collaborate with Shoana in compiling student work on the Tricaster and getting the broadcast full of as much academic and creative content as possible.
4. Compile that same content onto a CD-ROM for people who ask for student work and/or video clips of New Media
5. Take that same content and populate website with student project work
6. Finish the back-end programming of the website that will allow advisors to have control and feedback permissions as it relates to student profiels...("make this profile public" button, etc. See my earlier notes on this or see me for details).
7. Assist with advisor/staff recruitment effort (use time sparingly on this).
8. Finish with game design student project
9. Schedule time for administration to review student blogs.
10. Assist Kyana and Angola with getting a final product/conclusion for their projects.
11. Meet with 9th grade team and schedule and follow up with Eyes on Prize viewings.
12. Get math materials and games I created last year together and put together on website as a resource for other math teachers
13. Complete the schedule for teacher technology trainings.
--------
There are more, but this is what comes to mind immediately.
Project authenticity is at an all time high in the sense that the work reflects where the students are academically and technologically. Many students worked diligently on their projects with a small team or even alone, so I was often surprised to see their work after they emerged from their respective "labs" (at home, in the classroom, etc. ).
Of those advisors whose students presented, James , Meghan, and Michelle in particular have been working for long protracted periods with their students on the project and have a good amount of accumulated work. Others in this category, from my observation, include Shakae, Joseph, and Karla.
Tech staff did an outstanding job; Pascal, Tre, Jo Goins and Shoana all provided a great deal of support for the students they are involved with.
LOOKING FORWARD:
We still have a long way to go, and we have to figure out how to make the most of the current situation given our existing schedule and resource limitations.
There are a myriad of things I am personally involved with and would like to address before the year is over and I will have to prioritize them. These items are:
1. Working with the seniors to support them with
- Incorporating their senior portfolio data and images into IMovie productions.
- Incorporating IMovie productions into Flash Streaming video.
- Completing the chemistry project with those members of my advisory who did not finish.
3. Collaborate with Shoana in compiling student work on the Tricaster and getting the broadcast full of as much academic and creative content as possible.
4. Compile that same content onto a CD-ROM for people who ask for student work and/or video clips of New Media
5. Take that same content and populate website with student project work
6. Finish the back-end programming of the website that will allow advisors to have control and feedback permissions as it relates to student profiels...("make this profile public" button, etc. See my earlier notes on this or see me for details).
7. Assist with advisor/staff recruitment effort (use time sparingly on this).
8. Finish with game design student project
9. Schedule time for administration to review student blogs.
10. Assist Kyana and Angola with getting a final product/conclusion for their projects.
11. Meet with 9th grade team and schedule and follow up with Eyes on Prize viewings.
12. Get math materials and games I created last year together and put together on website as a resource for other math teachers
13. Complete the schedule for teacher technology trainings.
--------
There are more, but this is what comes to mind immediately.
Friday, March 14, 2008
EXHIBITION NIGHT PREVIEW
EXHIBITION NIGHT PREVIEW
As of March 14, 2008
9th grade:
OVERVIEW:
No significant progress has been made in the 9th grade Lens of the Living project overall since last exhibition night. Most of the time and resources of the 9th grade have been dedicated to the business plan projects that were started this fall.
I was given a list of five students from Mothuri Brian who have submitted good essays to him. However, when I checked the students’ blogs, most of them did not have their content posted online.
One student, Cynthia King, did have her full essay on her blog:
htt p://www.amazing93.blogspot.com/
she is still in the “fact gathering” stage, and the outline and essay both lack a clear focus. But she does seem to have done some research. I get the feeling that there may not be many students who have any more work done than she does for this project.
RECOMMENDATION:
I would recommend that we consider showing some of the 9th grade business projects on the 26th that Mothura Megan has worked on with them. Clearly this is where their time and energy has been going. Additionally, the advisors need to be held accountable for why their groups are not producing on the year long project, and the team should be responsible for coming up with some stiff ultimatums for themselves to get back on track.
10th grade:
OVERVIEW:
Isis’s class has done very good work under the supervision of Mothuri James regarding the voice activated car project. They have continued with their plan of conducting more in-depth research regarding technology that could make the voice activated car a possibility.
The group has built a robot car and has learned about various parts of the physical machinery/circuitry, how the car works, how to program the car using a laptop, and things of that nature. Some of their work has been video taped by Mothuri Pascal.
Ms. Cook’s class has done some work toward business plans and copyright/patent laws that apply to their invention, the EZ Hair Braider. However, their essay work is not complete yet.
One student is close to being finished with her essay:, Kaisha (sp?) , and Ms. Cook believes she would be in the position to present on Wednesday . The main thing Kaisha would need to do is to perform a slide show with a narrative of the research she has done thus far. This would have to be completed on Monday.
I asked Mothuri Angola if he had seen any essays of merit coming out of the 10th grade. He is not sure yet, as he has not finished grading them. He has my number and I asked him to call me on the break when he is finished grading.
Mothur Kyana has been struggling with the content for her subject. We need an intervention ASAP to help transition that class into a doable project given their current level of academic preparation and support.
RECOMMENDATION:
I would recommend that we show Isis’s class project (really Mothuri James’ work) regarding the robot. We need to get Kyana’s group some emergency assistance ASAP, and we need to hear from Angola about the other student essay work. The 10th grade as a whole needs some research assistance from some industry people and/or scientists to help drive their research and divide the work into manageable small tasks.
11th grade:
OVERVIEW:
The 11th grade has done further work on their PSAs , and from what I am hearing, the PSAs are better now than they were last month, when the entire class was instructed to re-do them due to an overall poor performance on the part of the class. I have only seen a few of the new PSAs.
To state the obvious, I am most interested in the essays at this point….the content. I have asked Mothura Shakae to get a list of the top essays in 11th grade and she is compiling that for me today.
RECOMMENDATION:
Now that we have an internet TV station ready to go, I would suggest us putting together a 20 minute program with some news and the student PSAs interjected between them as “commercials”. The main content would be something else that students have produced…. We have to look around but we should be able to pull some content …..EVEN IF the main program is the 10th grade project featuring the robot car.
To make myself clear, here is what I am proposing:
We produce a T.V. program about the robot car. The TV program is like a show that features “the making of” a robot controlled car (within the context of the Mind to Money project and the Voice Activated car respectively). We divide the program into parts and use the 11th grade PSAs as “commercials” in between the content.
Then we present the entire “show” at exhibition night, and all of the students who are “presenting” can come up to the stage after the show is over and explain their portion. Since we have a 5 paragraph essay requirement, every presenter must bring a hard copy of their essay with them to Exhibition Night to refer to, and these essays must obviously also be posted on their blogs.
This would be a new concept and something we’ve never done before, but it would be a step closer to actual real world Television, and it would be a creative way to present our content.
12th grade:
OVERVIEW:
Mothura Shoana has done a lot of work with the seniors and has three main products:
- Photoshop work demonstrating graphic design skills they have gained through her training that she would like to have them show in the form of a slide show.
- News Video clips of students broadcasting from a live studio (actually covers 10th and 11th grade, not 12th)
- Web pages students have built as a part of their senior portfolio.
RECOMMENDATION:
Shoana does good work and this content can be shown as-is. Seniors need to come prepared to explain what their work is.
Also, we should have a section of exhibition night where some of the seniors who have been accepted to college (I think it’s over half of them so far who have been accepted) can come up and talk about their post-secondary plans, goals, and aspirations.
OVERALL NOTES:
- We need to have a school wide talk about STANDARDS ALIGNMENT and be more conspicuous and deliberate about BOTH advisors and students KNOWING the standards and aliging all of their current and future work this year based on the standards.
- We are planning on using Exhibition Night to officially launch our internet TV Station. Whatever we prepare for Exhibition Night can be then broadcast continually from that night on. We will be handing out the address to the station at Exhibition Night, which will simply be a new page on the New MediaWebsite: http://www.newmediatech.net/flashSite/newmediatv.php
-Nmuta Jones
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Notes meeting with Jerry Ford
Tricaster Pro:keying out colors: ample lighting is critical and space from wall
wall colors are diffferent according to temperature.
Can be used with projector. You can do a presentation , and loop that video right into the projection.
Picture Playlist.....
overlay: allows you to put "bug" (overlay)
when using multiple inputs, all should be same...color temperature, etc.
gen lock first source: input known correct source.
Do same with other three cameras, etc.
Record and Stream: unit does four things when streaming:
encoding: encodes to mpeg4
pull vs. push:
use Push for a higher concentration of audience.
pull: client pulls from machine.
If a lot of people need to get your stuff, then use push.
Push can be a waste or resources.
Use Pull whenever necessary.
for internet broadcasting: 320X240 down to 160 x
For NMTCS, a good speed would be:
29.9 at 320 X 240 , 323 Kpbs
Jerry has server we can use: with own dedicated ip that we can use.
addrees:8080/folder/encoder/folder/filename
while streaming you can also write that stream to disk.
save to archive.
----
to set up a broadcast:
1. Live Production or Capture Media
in live production: go to vcr and picture
-- add footage.
pull in footage.
add..they show up on playlist.
and from there...put things in whatever order you want.
vcr playlist for video or picture playlist for pictures.
add effects between them.
in order to get to computer, go to admin ...turns software off and you can access computer.
VIDEO DELETE: MUST DELETE FILES FROM 'VIDEO DELETE' FUNCTION.
http://216.135.219.188:8080/encoder/stream.asf
will be the url
url:port/encoder/filename
Monday, March 3, 2008
PROJECT PROGRESSION TABLE
PROJECT PROGRESSION TABLE
| YOU ARE AT STAGE 1 IF: YOUR PROJECT BLOG HAS AN OUTLINE Q: What is my outline based on ? A: Your outline should be based on a DRIVING QUESTION that your group has written or developed based on the overall essential question for your project. For example: If your essential question is “How do ideas become products?” , and you are in the design group, your driving question for your outline will be “How do ideas become products from a DESIGN perspective?” If you are in the marketing group, your driving question will be “How do ideas become products from a MARKETING perspective?” |
| YOU ARE AT STAGE 2 IF: YOUR PROJECT BLOG HAS A 5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY |
| YOU ARE AT STAGE 3 IF: YOUR PROJECT BLOG HAS SOME SORT OF |
Please speak with your advisor about when you are expected to have completed each stage of this process.
New website milestone: Social networks are ready
The very first stage of social networking infrastructure is ready now on the website.
Users can "add" people to their network on the New Media website now. Once logged in, you can choose who is network. once someone is in your network, you can then go to your profile page and click on "view my network" and there you can see a preview window of the primary blog for each member in your network.
This allows an advisor, for example, to ADD all of the students in his/her advisory to his network. It also allows students to ADD collegues, friends, and project partners to their network. We are building social networks based on the same principles and ideas as MySpace, YouTube, Facebook, and other social networking sites our students already use.
Then, on one page he/she can preview EVERYONE'S blog at a glance and see who is up to date with their project/assignments/presentations/ etc. that should be present in the blog.
Notes -- meeting with Mothura Kah.
9TH GRADE, along with M. Kah. have put together a great detailed , day by day outline of everything until March 14th, which is our deadline for the multimedia presentation.
Today I will meet with 10th grade and show them what was done, and ask them to get the same thing completed by the end of tomorrow.
-------------------------
Grade wide book assignments:
9th grade: "The Color of Water".
10th grade: "
11th grade: "
12th grade: students would read same book Freedom School Students are reading.
and take them to Howard for a Day and meet with Dr. Greg Carr, since he is already going over the Freedom School book assignment.
---------------
Shakae will be asked to write letter up for parents about the book assignment, cost of book, etc. deadline, etc. We may offer book for slight discount to students.
--Nmuta will put up 9th grade project schedule for the next two weeks on website, as long as book assignment on website: "One school, one book".
--Nmuta will speak with English teachers about supplemental photocopies from highly effective writing book: what to distribute, what has already been distributed, etc.
Today I will meet with 10th grade and show them what was done, and ask them to get the same thing completed by the end of tomorrow.
-------------------------
Grade wide book assignments:
9th grade: "The Color of Water".
10th grade: "
11th grade: "
12th grade: students would read same book Freedom School Students are reading.
and take them to Howard for a Day and meet with Dr. Greg Carr, since he is already going over the Freedom School book assignment.
---------------
Shakae will be asked to write letter up for parents about the book assignment, cost of book, etc. deadline, etc. We may offer book for slight discount to students.
--Nmuta will put up 9th grade project schedule for the next two weeks on website, as long as book assignment on website: "One school, one book".
--Nmuta will speak with English teachers about supplemental photocopies from highly effective writing book: what to distribute, what has already been distributed, etc.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Professional Development outcomes and attendance
attendance:
A.Sela
N.Odo
K.Hopk
K.Kway
J.Lenoi
I.Wad
working with either Dr.Kenney or IEP group:
M.Kingkc (in her classroom with training)
J.McClo
V.Ston
C.Thoma
B.Bolto
--------------
11th grade: M. Shakae has written a series of driving questions already and circulated them amongst the 11th grade. They are good driving questions.
10th grade: Only Angola and Kyana were represented. I worked with them to develop driving questions.
K.Hopkins : we decided to redirect the roller coaster project because there is not enough academic support for the unavoidable Physics questions that this project involves. The primary driving question her whole class will be using is this: WHAT ROLE CAN CHEMISTRY PLAY IN PRODUCING AN EFFICIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ROLLER COASTER.?
The project will focus on fuel sources and the chemistry related problems.
Angola's advisory: he has already broken up his advisory into groups of ONE. ! This was to increase accountability for specific questions. We talked for quite a while and decided in the end to focus research now on PREVIOUS INVENTIONS.... in other words, "how has technology been used to improve communication and equipment efficiency in the sport of football"?
This helped address the issue that the project was too speculative, and students did not have enough background knowledge of technologies and improvements already made to the sport over time.
A.Sela
N.Odo
K.Hopk
K.Kway
J.Lenoi
I.Wad
working with either Dr.Kenney or IEP group:
M.Kingkc (in her classroom with training)
J.McClo
V.Ston
C.Thoma
B.Bolto
--------------
11th grade: M. Shakae has written a series of driving questions already and circulated them amongst the 11th grade. They are good driving questions.
10th grade: Only Angola and Kyana were represented. I worked with them to develop driving questions.
K.Hopkins : we decided to redirect the roller coaster project because there is not enough academic support for the unavoidable Physics questions that this project involves. The primary driving question her whole class will be using is this: WHAT ROLE CAN CHEMISTRY PLAY IN PRODUCING AN EFFICIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ROLLER COASTER.?
The project will focus on fuel sources and the chemistry related problems.
Angola's advisory: he has already broken up his advisory into groups of ONE. ! This was to increase accountability for specific questions. We talked for quite a while and decided in the end to focus research now on PREVIOUS INVENTIONS.... in other words, "how has technology been used to improve communication and equipment efficiency in the sport of football"?
This helped address the issue that the project was too speculative, and students did not have enough background knowledge of technologies and improvements already made to the sport over time.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NOTES
PROJECT PLANNING
Advisors: Thank you for the work you have already done for the year long projects. Please feel free to incorporate work your students have already done in the process that is outlined below. This is nothing new; it’s simply a structure we need to put in place to make sure all of our children are being held accountable for work that you have assigned to them thus far as it relates to their year long projects.
TODAY'S AGENDA FOR PROJECT PLANNING:
1. Advisors must finish creating profiles on the New Media Website so we can track their students' work online.
2. Advisors will write more focused DRIVING QUESTIONS (or "sub-essential questions") for their students to base an outline on.
3. Notifications of deadlines for student exhibition night:
• By Friday , February 29, 2008 all students must have basic outline for their project on their blog
• By Friday, March 7, 2008 , all students must have a basic five paragraph essay written related to their project
• By Friday, March 14, 2008 all students must have some type of multimedia component based on the five paragraph essay.
Note: we are not looking for all students to be 100% proficient in this process the first time, but we are looking for students to begin the process of understanding how to organize their ideas for projects. Mr. Jones will be providing assistance with those who need help understanding or completing this process.
Advisors: Thank you for the work you have already done for the year long projects. Please feel free to incorporate work your students have already done in the process that is outlined below. This is nothing new; it’s simply a structure we need to put in place to make sure all of our children are being held accountable for work that you have assigned to them thus far as it relates to their year long projects.
TODAY'S AGENDA FOR PROJECT PLANNING:
1. Advisors must finish creating profiles on the New Media Website so we can track their students' work online.
2. Advisors will write more focused DRIVING QUESTIONS (or "sub-essential questions") for their students to base an outline on.
3. Notifications of deadlines for student exhibition night:
• By Friday , February 29, 2008 all students must have basic outline for their project on their blog
• By Friday, March 7, 2008 , all students must have a basic five paragraph essay written related to their project
• By Friday, March 14, 2008 all students must have some type of multimedia component based on the five paragraph essay.
Note: we are not looking for all students to be 100% proficient in this process the first time, but we are looking for students to begin the process of understanding how to organize their ideas for projects. Mr. Jones will be providing assistance with those who need help understanding or completing this process.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Technology Team Meeting
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
In attendance:
Shoana, Jo, Pascal,Nmuta, Tre
1. Exhibition night candidates must have final projects completed for presentation by March 14, the day before spring break.
2. All tech team members are to submit to me 2 candidates for exhibition night by this Friday for submission to M. Khal
3. All tech team members should make sure the students they are working with have active blogs AND that their blogs have been attached to the New Media website account.
4. Re-iterated the fact that all TECH and PROJECT grades will be based on content posted in blogs.
5. JO will be working with us to improve overall sound quality of presentations.
In attendance:
Shoana, Jo, Pascal,Nmuta, Tre
1. Exhibition night candidates must have final projects completed for presentation by March 14, the day before spring break.
2. All tech team members are to submit to me 2 candidates for exhibition night by this Friday for submission to M. Khal
3. All tech team members should make sure the students they are working with have active blogs AND that their blogs have been attached to the New Media website account.
4. Re-iterated the fact that all TECH and PROJECT grades will be based on content posted in blogs.
5. JO will be working with us to improve overall sound quality of presentations.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Multimedia and Project update
1. The biggest concern of mine this week is the fact that I was just made aware of an issue that happened with the video camera order. We had six cameras that came in during the month of December, which turned out to be the wrong model number. We sent them back. I was informed that we were "exchanging" them for new cameras.
I had asked the team on several occasions since then where the cameras were, and I was told that there was no word yet as to when the new cameras were coming.
Yesterday I found out that a consultant (who has not attended a single one of our technology meetings, incidentally), had intercepted the order, saying that he could get us a "better deal". As of yesterday, the cameras had not been ordered. It's almost March. We sent those cameras back in December.
I will not rant. But this is unacceptable. Mr. G. should not have intercepted that order without informing me.
2. The schedule has been changed by Mothura K.A. to reflect the following multimedia assignments:
Tre: all of 11th grade
notes: The 11th grade recently submitted "round 2" of their PSAs for their grade wide project. The work was overall very low quality. Tre collaborated with the 11th grade team and the 11th graders were asked to re-do the PSAs, and the new ones are reportedly better. I have not seen all of them, but I plan on reviewing them as soon as I can.
Pascal: all of 10th grade
notes: Pascal has been working primarily with Mothura I.Wade and Mothura M.K. in the 10th grade up to this point. I will still be providing some guidance to the Mothori A.S. and Mothura K.H. in the 10th grade since I have started working with them already.
Overall, there is a general imbalance in the amount of work done by some students as opposed to others. They are also facing what I call the CONTENT CRISIS... lack of content is an epidemic. I address this later in this post...scroll down and read the section called CONTENT IS KING.
I am assisting with project management for 9th grade but I am not providing multimedia instruction, this is covered by our consultant, Mothuri J.G. Next week will be his first time attending our weekly Tuesday multimedia team meeting, so we will receive a report from him at that time. I am continuing to work with them on Fridays, facilitating historical video viewings and questions. I met with the lead advisor for 9th grade yesterday and we have mapped out the next few sessions.
I should also mention that yesterday, I facilitated the process of the entire 9th grade setting up their blogs. I received a great deal of assistance from Mothuri J.M., lead advisor for 9th grade, as he took a few groups into another room to help me finish the entire 9th grade before 12 noon.
12th grade: Our Consultant, S.Clark is still finishing work with the seniors and she has been asked to make sure every student finishes a web site, as many students were still behind in their work the last time I spoke with them. She has done an amazing job with the internet broadcast team. I disagree with the belief that we have to "discontinue" her work with small groups. It has been proposed that she should only work with entire advisories...that her working with only 8-10 students at a time is not fair to other students. I disagree. I don't think she would be as effective if she had to manage 18-20 students at once, as she explicitly stated to me when she started that she really feels more comfortable working with small groups. We need to have more conversation around this.
CONTENT IS KING.
I know I have stated this several times but I want to be very clear:
It is my belief that a structured focus on research and literacy is the most important step for us this year in terms of improving project quality. I have instituted the student blogging protocol and student account system on the website to help serve as a vehicle for this process to develop. I have held three separate staff development discussions around this topic. As of yesterday, about half of the advisors raised their hands saying that they would like training to understand how the blogs work.
Understanding that we are not in a "build it and they will come" scenario, I have assigned myself, Tre, Pascal, and LaToya to be responsible and accountable to make sure that students set up accounts and hook them up to the New Media website.
I stated in staff development yesterday and I'm stating it here that STUDENT GRADES FOR MULTIMEDIA AND PROJECTS WILL BE BASED ON CONTENT POSTED IN THEIR BLOGS.
What should the blogs contain?
The process of getting the students to enter information is the hardest part of this work. Building research skills takes time, but I am very excited about the M.A.K.E. program from Milwaukee (read my post below entitled Cross Curricular PROJECT MANAGEMENT).
I had asked the team on several occasions since then where the cameras were, and I was told that there was no word yet as to when the new cameras were coming.
Yesterday I found out that a consultant (who has not attended a single one of our technology meetings, incidentally), had intercepted the order, saying that he could get us a "better deal". As of yesterday, the cameras had not been ordered. It's almost March. We sent those cameras back in December.
I will not rant. But this is unacceptable. Mr. G. should not have intercepted that order without informing me.
2. The schedule has been changed by Mothura K.A. to reflect the following multimedia assignments:
Tre: all of 11th grade
notes: The 11th grade recently submitted "round 2" of their PSAs for their grade wide project. The work was overall very low quality. Tre collaborated with the 11th grade team and the 11th graders were asked to re-do the PSAs, and the new ones are reportedly better. I have not seen all of them, but I plan on reviewing them as soon as I can.
Pascal: all of 10th grade
notes: Pascal has been working primarily with Mothura I.Wade and Mothura M.K. in the 10th grade up to this point. I will still be providing some guidance to the Mothori A.S. and Mothura K.H. in the 10th grade since I have started working with them already.
Overall, there is a general imbalance in the amount of work done by some students as opposed to others. They are also facing what I call the CONTENT CRISIS... lack of content is an epidemic. I address this later in this post...scroll down and read the section called CONTENT IS KING.
I am assisting with project management for 9th grade but I am not providing multimedia instruction, this is covered by our consultant, Mothuri J.G. Next week will be his first time attending our weekly Tuesday multimedia team meeting, so we will receive a report from him at that time. I am continuing to work with them on Fridays, facilitating historical video viewings and questions. I met with the lead advisor for 9th grade yesterday and we have mapped out the next few sessions.
I should also mention that yesterday, I facilitated the process of the entire 9th grade setting up their blogs. I received a great deal of assistance from Mothuri J.M., lead advisor for 9th grade, as he took a few groups into another room to help me finish the entire 9th grade before 12 noon.
12th grade: Our Consultant, S.Clark is still finishing work with the seniors and she has been asked to make sure every student finishes a web site, as many students were still behind in their work the last time I spoke with them. She has done an amazing job with the internet broadcast team. I disagree with the belief that we have to "discontinue" her work with small groups. It has been proposed that she should only work with entire advisories...that her working with only 8-10 students at a time is not fair to other students. I disagree. I don't think she would be as effective if she had to manage 18-20 students at once, as she explicitly stated to me when she started that she really feels more comfortable working with small groups. We need to have more conversation around this.
CONTENT IS KING.
I know I have stated this several times but I want to be very clear:
It is my belief that a structured focus on research and literacy is the most important step for us this year in terms of improving project quality. I have instituted the student blogging protocol and student account system on the website to help serve as a vehicle for this process to develop. I have held three separate staff development discussions around this topic. As of yesterday, about half of the advisors raised their hands saying that they would like training to understand how the blogs work.
Understanding that we are not in a "build it and they will come" scenario, I have assigned myself, Tre, Pascal, and LaToya to be responsible and accountable to make sure that students set up accounts and hook them up to the New Media website.
I stated in staff development yesterday and I'm stating it here that STUDENT GRADES FOR MULTIMEDIA AND PROJECTS WILL BE BASED ON CONTENT POSTED IN THEIR BLOGS.
What should the blogs contain?
- Outlines of the project
- graphic organizers when possible
- notes about the project
- interview transcriptions or recordings
- videos
- classwork done for multimedia classes (in a separate blog if necessary...student accounts support multiple blogs) - this is a significant part of multimedia grade
- the final product- this is a significant part of multimedia grade
- if a student is working in a group (which is everyone), student must categorically explain their individual contributions to the project.
The process of getting the students to enter information is the hardest part of this work. Building research skills takes time, but I am very excited about the M.A.K.E. program from Milwaukee (read my post below entitled Cross Curricular PROJECT MANAGEMENT).
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Cross Curricular PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Please note that I am using abbreviations for names in this post.
I had an amazing experience in Milwaukee. I went out there to work with the OUTLOOK network of schools: they needed me to help spearhead an animation project they are doing out there.
What I found was that the CEO of Outlook, who is a project-based veteran, has been building a new framework to help with the process of PROJECT MANAGEMENT and RESEARCH/LITERACY skills.....the EXACT SAME THING that I have been working on for NMTCS and Boys Ltn.
Specifically, WK, the CEO, has developed a proceess called M.A.K.E. , which is a highly structured, standards compliant, detailed project development protocol which has the power to fill in a lot of the gaps in our current project development packet.
M.A.K.E. does not replace the packet, rather it provides structure to the actual research and development process. Year after year I have witnessed advisors give their children outlines, project planning packets, and the internet and say 'DO YOUR PROJECTS'. The children who can write and who can research do fairly well, but most children fall through the cracks without something like M.A.K.E. in place.
I want to talk to Dr. I.W. and Mothura K.A. to discuss this.... and also since I have already been given the ase through my job description to implement structures like this, I think I will begin to work this process into the project management system already in place that I'm building.
I have to check with W.K. of Outlook in Milwaukee about copyright and protection of the M.A.K.E. system before we start using it publicly.
I also would like for us to look into the prospect of building it into our online project management system.....not sure how that would look in terms of details but I'm capable of building it. Or we could outsource it. I would like to meet with W.K. to nail down exactly what the online version would look like.
I had an amazing experience in Milwaukee. I went out there to work with the OUTLOOK network of schools: they needed me to help spearhead an animation project they are doing out there.
What I found was that the CEO of Outlook, who is a project-based veteran, has been building a new framework to help with the process of PROJECT MANAGEMENT and RESEARCH/LITERACY skills.....the EXACT SAME THING that I have been working on for NMTCS and Boys Ltn.
Specifically, WK, the CEO, has developed a proceess called M.A.K.E. , which is a highly structured, standards compliant, detailed project development protocol which has the power to fill in a lot of the gaps in our current project development packet.
M.A.K.E. does not replace the packet, rather it provides structure to the actual research and development process. Year after year I have witnessed advisors give their children outlines, project planning packets, and the internet and say 'DO YOUR PROJECTS'. The children who can write and who can research do fairly well, but most children fall through the cracks without something like M.A.K.E. in place.
I want to talk to Dr. I.W. and Mothura K.A. to discuss this.... and also since I have already been given the ase through my job description to implement structures like this, I think I will begin to work this process into the project management system already in place that I'm building.
I have to check with W.K. of Outlook in Milwaukee about copyright and protection of the M.A.K.E. system before we start using it publicly.
I also would like for us to look into the prospect of building it into our online project management system.....not sure how that would look in terms of details but I'm capable of building it. Or we could outsource it. I would like to meet with W.K. to nail down exactly what the online version would look like.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
9th grade project update
This week I will be in Milwaukee during the Friday historical movie assembly.
It will be the first week that I am not there. I would like Mothuri J.M. of the 9th grade team (lead advisor) to take over. I spoke with him and Mothura M.K. (9th grade also) about handling it.
I really do think a role play or short skit would be in order for Friday. (see my James Meredith post below) or you can open the original post alone by itself here :
http://ile-ikawe.blogspot.com/2008/02/james-meredith.html
The purpose of doing a skit or a role play to act out the James Meredith story would be to help get the students more involved instead of being passive participants in the room.
I will be calling J.M. and M.K. tonight.
It will be the first week that I am not there. I would like Mothuri J.M. of the 9th grade team (lead advisor) to take over. I spoke with him and Mothura M.K. (9th grade also) about handling it.
I really do think a role play or short skit would be in order for Friday. (see my James Meredith post below) or you can open the original post alone by itself here :
http://ile-ikawe.blogspot.com/2008/02/james-meredith.html
The purpose of doing a skit or a role play to act out the James Meredith story would be to help get the students more involved instead of being passive participants in the room.
I will be calling J.M. and M.K. tonight.
STUDENTS CAN NOW ATTACH BLOGS TO NEW MEDIA WEBSITE
I've reached another milestone in the project management process for New Media middle and high school.
Now students can log in (and 90% of our students already have user names and passwords on the new media site) and they can update their profiles, including their
blog addreess on google
an alternate blog address (blog #2)
a personal web address
and each one of these will become visible on their "account" when they log in.
What's the point of this process?
Well, the overall point is that this will be the structure through which our students will be building their online portfolios and project development logs throughout the year. This process is described in my "proposal" listed a few posts earlier (scroll down).
We will also be using this tool to log school and class wide assignments related to writing and research development. We have discussed this in project development last week and this week, and I have met individually with all the English teachers in the building, and they are all in agreement with it and are willing to support it.
It's really more about me supporting them. I have taken things the English departments are already working on (like Highly Effective Writing book) and woven them into this plan.
WHO WILL IMPLEMENT THIS?
Pascal, LaToya, and MySelf will be getting all the students up to speed in terms of making sure they have Blog accounts set up and having them hook them up to the New Media website. I should re-iterate that only the blogs that we as administrators decide to "make public" will be shown on the external website.
After the blogs are set up, since blogs are used for tracking progress on projects, All Tech team personell will be accountable to make sure that whatever progress they make with their students should be uploaded to the student blogs.
Every advisor will be able to log into the website and see a list of all of their students in their class and they will be able to go in and make "comments" on their students' blog pages. These blogs will be used to grade the projects.
Advisors can also assign work to go onto the blogs.
Now students can log in (and 90% of our students already have user names and passwords on the new media site) and they can update their profiles, including their
blog addreess on google
an alternate blog address (blog #2)
a personal web address
and each one of these will become visible on their "account" when they log in.
What's the point of this process?
Well, the overall point is that this will be the structure through which our students will be building their online portfolios and project development logs throughout the year. This process is described in my "proposal" listed a few posts earlier (scroll down).
We will also be using this tool to log school and class wide assignments related to writing and research development. We have discussed this in project development last week and this week, and I have met individually with all the English teachers in the building, and they are all in agreement with it and are willing to support it.
It's really more about me supporting them. I have taken things the English departments are already working on (like Highly Effective Writing book) and woven them into this plan.
WHO WILL IMPLEMENT THIS?
Pascal, LaToya, and MySelf will be getting all the students up to speed in terms of making sure they have Blog accounts set up and having them hook them up to the New Media website. I should re-iterate that only the blogs that we as administrators decide to "make public" will be shown on the external website.
After the blogs are set up, since blogs are used for tracking progress on projects, All Tech team personell will be accountable to make sure that whatever progress they make with their students should be uploaded to the student blogs.
Every advisor will be able to log into the website and see a list of all of their students in their class and they will be able to go in and make "comments" on their students' blog pages. These blogs will be used to grade the projects.
Advisors can also assign work to go onto the blogs.
MEETING WITH OUR POWERSCHOOL DEVELOPER
WOW.
I just met with our powerschool developer, K.N.
We have some really amazing people working with and around us.
This guy is a quiet giant. Has built a lot of stuff that everyone uses every day....and has helped build some companies from scratch that are now household names.
I asked him if he would be open to speaking with some of our students groups about what he does... students who are into certain focused technology areas. He is open.
OK WELL the point of our meeting, initially, before we branched off into larger topics, was the homework posting engine in the website. I have built one that works, but we are waiting for Powerschool.
In a nutshell, as SOON as the new schedule is done, we can have homework posting. But we are waiting on the schedule.
We need to meet with Mothura K.A. asap to get the new schedule in place as soon as possible because homework posting is dependent upon this.
I just met with our powerschool developer, K.N.
We have some really amazing people working with and around us.
This guy is a quiet giant. Has built a lot of stuff that everyone uses every day....and has helped build some companies from scratch that are now household names.
I asked him if he would be open to speaking with some of our students groups about what he does... students who are into certain focused technology areas. He is open.
OK WELL the point of our meeting, initially, before we branched off into larger topics, was the homework posting engine in the website. I have built one that works, but we are waiting for Powerschool.
In a nutshell, as SOON as the new schedule is done, we can have homework posting. But we are waiting on the schedule.
We need to meet with Mothura K.A. asap to get the new schedule in place as soon as possible because homework posting is dependent upon this.
Building Literacy and Research skills through blogging: my proposal -- Feb 1st 2008
Below I have pasted my proposal to create a school wide PROJECT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM through integrating Blogger.com website into the New Media tech's website.
LITERACY AND RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Using the Website to track student literacy and research development through blogging.
| Concept: THE WEBSITE WILL BECOME THE CENTRAL MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE TO TRACK STUDENT PROGRESS IN THE AREA OF WRITING AND RESEARCH. We will be using the GOOGLE suite of resources for students to track their educational progress at the school as it relates to project development. Between the Google suite of resources and POWERSHCOOL, we should be able to catalog and track everything our students do academically. The Google suite will allow students to have access to all of these resources when logged into the New Media Website: Personal Blog, (including video uploading), Microsoft Word, spreadsheet, and powerpoint creation without having to have Microsoft office installed, Document sharing and collaboration with others, Calendar that allows sharing of mutual agenda items with others, photo archiving, email, (includes support for sending and storing large files… over 6 gigs of space, and a host of other features. | |
| Methods: 1. As student users log in to the website, they are able to “update their profiles” 2. Database will be expanded to include the following user data: graduationyear projectname blogaddress Photo 3. When students log in, if they have not yet created a student blog on blogger.com, they will be asked to do so. Once they have created their blog, they will be asked to enter their blog address in the “BLOGGER” field on their student account. the blog will then appear in their “My Place” blog address on their student account on the new Media website. Only the student can see their own blog when here. 4. Admins , (M. Khalila, M. Ina, myself, etc.) will be able to see a list of every advisory and every student in each advisory, and make certain student accounts “public” so that they can be viewed by anyone who visits the website. Having your account made “public” will be considered a special privilege, since this is an indication that your work is good enough for the public to see and that you are trusted to have only presentable content on your blog.
5. Blogs are a turnkey solution that offer quick results. They allow video uploads, text, and image posting and are a good way to present student work. Also note, however, that there is a field for a “personal website” also, (which can also be made public by an administrator). Seniors who made websites with M. Shoana will be candidates to have their websites made public on the New Media website once they have completed integrating their content. 6. Once our students have blogs up, we will assign schoolwide and/or grade wide writing and research assignments . Here we will be providing actual mini assignments that help students learn about the process of research. I have investigated the I-Search process (http://www.literacymatters.org/content/isearch/intro.htm ) but I am looking for something even more specific that deals with discernment of sources, how to conduct intelligent web searches, how to choose sources from multiple points of view , how to find out WHICH QUESTIONS TO ASK about a topic you don’t know much about, how to identify and approach primary sources, etc. 7. The student blogs will be used to track student completion of these schoolwide and/or grade wide assignments. They can be then integrated into the lesson planning work for all subject areas that will be addressing these topics. Example assignment: For 10th and 11th grade students: Today’s lesson is on how to begin conducting research on a subject you know nothing about , using a graphic organizer to outline your thoughts, and a search engine as a research tool. Step 1: Make a web with the subject in the center of the web, and, branching out from that web, all of the related subjects in hierarchical fashion. Always keep in mind the fact that some of the sub-categories that you associate with a main subject may not be directly related to the main subject at all (in other words, your initial thoughts and word associations with that subject may be incorrect). Step 2: Using Google, (or one of the more specialized search engines on our list), enter keywords or a QUESTION ( for example: “What are the causes of acid rain?”), and then look at several of the search results. Choose search words that you believe will get right to the heart of the subject. Step 3: Read through five of the best looking results produced by the search. Use the discernment worksheet provided to help you learn how to discern between sources. Step 4: Compare the web you made with the results returned. Does any of the information match? Are there subjects, words, or concepts coming up in the initial web results that are NOT on your web? Are there things on your web that may not be relevant to the topic or need to be thoroughly researched? Step 5: Revise your web to match some of the initial results you found. Write an outline for a 5 paragraph essay with the new facts you’ve derived from these five new sources. Use the HIGHLY EFFECTIVE WRITING BOOK, make your outline based on the guidelines given on page 5. Step 6: Identify which points you wish to re-enforce in your 5 paragraph essay with deeper research. Do another Google search on this topic alone, combined perhaps with certain keywords, following the rules given on your keyword search document. Take notes. Step 7: Type your outline , with an much detail, into your BLOG with the title: MARCH 7 PROJECT OUTLINE. Conduct a good spell check. Save your work. Your advisors, parents, and school administrators will be reviewing this material. Make sure it represents your BEST work. | |
| |
Friday, February 8, 2008
James Meredith
Today was my third consecutive week facilitating Eyes on the Prize viewings with the entire 9th grade class. I had the idea of showing Eyes on the Prize as an educational exercise to help students better understand the historical context of the decades they are studying for the LENS OF THE LIVING grade wide year long project.
The first two weeks, students were relatively attentive. This week, students were restless, talking and growing weary of the film. We are currently at 1962, James Meredith.
I found that what helped was stopping the movie every few minutes at key points at "breaking it down" for the students, tying in key points and parallels to the present time.
This works, but it worries me that I have to do this.
The larger implication is that the subject matter itself is not riveting enough for the students to be interested on its own merit.
We were watching footage of the governor of Mississipi arguing with president Kennedy about how he would defend the state against Federal laws insisting Meredith be able to attend Ole Miss, along with all of the drama: Southern Whites in squirrel hunting season toting thousands of shotguns, Federal Marshals being called in, young southern white girls throwing bricks at national troops, reporters getting killed, smoke, violence.... and a Black man standing up against an entire state of hatred and bigotry. Yet this is not interesting until I tell you that is?
In the end , the students perked up and paid attention, but I could not only help but think that without a person like myself leading the group, how successful would this session have been? What is the larger implication of this? Is it a matter of changing the climate of the entire class? Higher pressure from parents? Higher pressure from advisors? Getting advisors to me more engaging with the students overall? Higher stakes assignments? More weight put on the grade for the questions turned in?
Or perhaps a more engaging approach.... after a few film segments are shown, getting the students out of 'RECEIVE' mode and into 'PARTICIPATE' mode somehow. Does this mean bringing in a guest next week? Having students do a role play? A short film re-enactment of the James Meredith experience that we could film and incorporate into the student projects?
Hmmm....we may be on to something here.
At any rate, for my own record, I'm posting the questions the students had to answer at the end of the session here so that I can refer to them later. These are due Monday.
--------------------------------------------------
1. Who was James Meredith?
2. On what grounds did the governor of Mississippi deny James Meredith the right to register at ‘Ole Miss?
3. Describe the nature and outcome of the dialogues between President Kennedy and the governor of Mississippi regarding the integration of ‘Ole Miss.
4. Why was the south so intent on maintaining “states rights” throughout the 20th century?
5. Describe any similarities between what happened in Mississippi in 1962 and what happened with the Jena 6 in 2007.
----------------------------------
From last week: (these questions were written by advisors. ( McCloud and Bolton))
6.What was Dr. King’s strategy to fight segregation and racism?
7.Who was Reverend Dr. Ralph Abernathy?
8.How did the Black community organize transportation during the Montgomery Bus boycott?
9.What does “unconstitutional” mean and why was bus segregation unconstitutional?
10.What was the economic impact of Dr. King’s strategy to resist segregation?
Thursday, February 7, 2008
The word "ilé ikàwé" means literally "house of readers", and is often used in the Yoruba language to be the word for school. I am not Yoruba. But I like the word. In Nigeria one of the first sentences I learned was "mon'lo si'lé ikàwé .... "I'm going to school". This was over 15 years ago and I think this phrase is still true. I consider myself a life long learner.
This blog is specifically dedicated to chronicle my experiences helping to build urban, project based learning schools in United States. I will be posting my experiences, strategies, techniques, and projects here.
This blog is specifically dedicated to chronicle my experiences helping to build urban, project based learning schools in United States. I will be posting my experiences, strategies, techniques, and projects here.
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