Synthesis Paper #4

1. In what specific ways does the webquest address questions about the most important things teachers need to do to help students prepare for their futures? 

I believe that one of the most important things a teacher can do to best prepare students for their future is to have high and consistent expectations but also to force students to think in different ways and to open their minds when completing different tasks.  For my webquest I have created a project that is challenging to many students.  Their task in the project forces students to think differently than they are normally asked to.  My project also makes students think analytically, not just regurgitate facts.  Students must research, and then analyze the information to form their own opinions and thesis.  Then, students are asked to be creative in presenting their findings.  I believe that students are not asked enough in schools now (and I think it will get worse) to analyze information and come to conclusions based on the research/information they receive.  Also, students are asked even less to be creative and present idea in a creative way.  Students have become used to choosing the correct answer, instead of creating something to present their supported findings.  Students are asked in this project to look at current events, apply the theories and facts we have learned in class to make a “real life” and “realistic” prediction about what form a government would take after a revolution.

2. How do the ideas in the webquest relate to social justice and the core values & vision of the class?

My webquest asks student to look at the question “who has the power?”  It is through this question that students evaluate historical evidence of power struggles and revolution to see the impact of the form of government.  Throughout the Civics course we have studied the founding principles of a democracy.  We have looked at other countries and whether these principles are specific to the US or if they can be applied to other countries.  This project required students to look at these founding principles of our democracy and the purpose/progress of revolutions.  This project requires students to look at a country’s past and evaluate why there would be a revolution and what happens next.  Students will have to determine which founding principles, if any, could/should/will be considered in starting a new government after the revolutions.   

3.     How does the webquest relate to NCSS principles 8 and 9?

This webquest directly corresponds to NCSS principles 8 and 9.  First, principle 8 directly relates to the webquest because of the discussion questions.  One of the required discussion questions within the webquest is to evaluate how technology impacts revolutions.  Students must look at a number of revolutions and evaluate what role technology played in past revolutions.  Student are then asked what role technology played in this (Egypt) specific revolution.  Principle 9 relates to the webquest because this particular webquest requires students to look at the idea of revolution and the implications globally. 

To be effective in 2025...

In 2025 many things about schools (structure, curriculum and pedagogy) should change for schools to be effective.  For schools to be successful in 2025 the structure needs to completely different.  It is going to become increasingly more important for schools to be restructured.  Currently the education system is not always functional.  I believe that as collaborative learning, and theme based learning becomes more and more important the structure of schools will have to change.  It is going to become harder and harder for teachers to be evaluated solely on standardized tests.  There is going to need to be a principle for the school, an Assistant Principle to handle students and disciple, and then another assistant principle solely for teachers.  This principle will be in charge of teachers and reviews/evaluations.  This principle will also help teachers with personal development.  This restructuring is much more aligned to the structure of corporations.  Teachers are going to need to be innovative, and creative in the future.  To be successful in this they will not only need support but also a new way to rating/evaluating success.  

Curriculum needs to not be so standard based in the future but theme based.  As the video talked about, projects and cooperative learning works best for students.  This is very hard to do with standardized tests only.  Schooling will need to be more project, technology, and cooperative based.  These projects will help students remember what they learn.  These projects will also allow students to connect and find meaning in the subject.  In 2025 it is going to be imperative that learning is relevant for the future.  Student will need to understand themes and how subjects relate and go together.  This is more easily done through projects and cooperative learning instead of standardized testing and fast paced “crammed learning.”


From the video, it was clear to see in PA’s schools that project based learning helped student learn much more than in school where they learn quickly and then forget it.  Projects allow students to be focused and invested in a certain project.  Instead of cramming for a short test and forgetting the information as soon as the test is over, projects allow for students to truly become invested in the subject matter.  In addition to students becoming invested in the subject matter through projects, projects also allow for deeper learning.  Student will not just learn surface information for the test, but truly develop skills and knowledge that is memorable. 
Students will also need to learn using must more technology.  Their world moves so much faster and their attention is shorter. They understand technology and use it in their lives so often that to get the most out of their education they need to use technology in the classroom as well.  They also need to learn how to use technology because the world in 2025 will be all technology. Technology is a way to connect to students and is the way that students will need to connect to the world.  

In addition to the three reasons listed above, a simple logistical change that will need to be made for the other two to be successful: theme and not standards based learning.  Standards based learning is too quick for the collaborative and project based learning to truly work.  The reality is that student will learn the “standard” but in a different order, time, and way.

Schooling in 2025???

Schooling in 2025 will have a very different role than schooling today.  In 2025 schools will have the responsibility of creating smart, socially aware students able to understand big problems and come up with creative solutions.  I believe that in the year 2025 there are going to be more complex problems in the world.  Those complex problems are not going to be solved by anyone.  Those problems are going to need creative, intelligent solutions.  The responsibility/role of schools is to prepare students for those situations.   More than today, schools in 2025 are going to need to be more practical.  Schools will need to relate what they teach to the real world.  In classes such as history, it is the school’s responsibility to help students see how the past impacts the future and how one can learn from the actions in the past.   Schools will also need to take on the role of teaching communication even more than today.

I know that there is a heavy Kagan focus in schools today, but I think that rigorous and authentic learning will not necessarily be Kagan.  I think that authentic learning will center more around realistic applications. I think that learning will be about current events, real problems, and real solutions.  By using current events to teach theories and facts teachers will make any subject matter relevant to students.  It is this relevancy that will make students more and more aware of the importance of what they are learning.  Asking students to apply classroom knowledge to real life scenarios is not always easy, and in many ways challenges them more than just in-classroom applications.  Current events and the use of real life application can also “level the playing field for many students.”  Especially in Civics, background knowledge can be an issue.  Two kids in a class could have TONS of background knowledge to make connections to and to pull from, while others have never heard of many of the topics.  It is very hard to teach civics when some students have no background knowledge.  By using current events, everyone has some background knowledge to pull from, even if it is what they just learned.  This will allow ALL students to be engaged and participate in higher level thinking. 

IB Project

I have just started doing an IB project with my 8th grade class.  I thought that the discussion questions were worth sharing.  The discussion that came from the students was extremely insightful and showed a wonderful amount of global awareness.

Who Has the Power??

Over the course of the year we have discussed many topics, many of which have the theme of Power.  In class we have discussed community, and what it means to be a part of a community.  We have discussed how people come to power, and who plays a role in this.  We have discussed what happened in our country’s history that set up our countries fundamental principles to determine power.  Lastly, we have studied how our country separates power.  

“Who has the Power in the United States?”  Who do you think has the power? Why? Is it the people? What kind of people? Business? What type? Government? Which part?

 Look at Egypt: What will Egypt’s government look like?  Where will the power lie? How are you going to visually represent it?  My old picture of Egypt was a pyramid.  Both symbolic because the leader is at the top and the people at the bottom, but also because it stands for Egypt’s history (and so much of it is build literally on the backs of the poorest members).   After listening to many news programs and interviews with the people in Egypt, what do you think they hold most important? Who will have the Power?  

I think that it is important to note that students really did not get involved in the conversation until I told them that there was no "Right" or "Wrong."   Its so interesting to me that students look for the right, don't want to be wrong, and don't know what to do when there is no right or wrong....

Content in 2025?

In 2025, I think content knowledge will have many different roles.  Some of the roles will be the same as in the year 2011, but many of the roles will be different due to the state of the world.  Content knowledge will always serve the role of an avenue for delivering basic skills.  In history, student learn analytical skills, reading skills, vocabulary, and many more basic skills that they will need no matter what career they choose.  Content knowledge in the year 2025 will help students prepare for the unknown.  So much of the world is now technology based and developing at a rapid rate, that student’s needs to be prepared for problems and solutions that are not known now.  Content knowledge will be used to facilitate collaboration that is vital for out-of-the-box solutions and creative problem solving when dealing with some of these unknowns.  Just as today, one of the most important aspects of history or civics is the understanding of past events to prevent similar events in the future.  Civics also allows students to understand how governments work and relate.  In 2025, the world is going to be very connected and it is civics/government that will give students the background knowledge to they need to deal with other governments.

There are a couple skills that students will need to master to be productive in 2025.  First, it is obvious right now that technology is becoming more and more important.  Students need to have the skills to be able to use/master technology.  Technology can hinder learning and careers if not used as an enhancement.  With the mastering of technology, people can use the tool to the highest degree they are able and therefore enhance their field.  In the year 2025 students will also need to master the skill of communication and problem solving.  Our world is being more and more connected, and it is going to be very important in 2025 that students have the skills to communicate with other countries and all types of people (not just in other languages, but in “how” people talk.)  The problems we are going to face in the year 2025 are also going to be technology based, and different than any other problems we have faced in the past.  The solutions to these problems need to be creative and the people that come up with the solutions are going to need to be innovative, and resourceful.  It is because of this, that a skill that students are going to need to have problem solving skills.