Spring Break is Over! Lets become Informed Citizens...

Welcome back from Spring Break. I hope everyone is rested and ready to get back to the work of learning. 

So What Does This Mean...???

Questions for the Class: Let us take a moment to ponder...

• What is a Democracy? 
• What is the relationship between a democracy and its citizens?
• What is the relationship between a democracy and its non-citizens? Is there one?
• What is the difference between a well informed citizen and a non-informed citizen?
• How does a person become and remain a well informed citizen?

Here is a different perspective:

Why would a government or institutions within a government or organizations within a country NOT want well informed citizens?

Class Question: Can you give some present day or past examples (Govts, govt institutions, or organizations) of this? 

PREVENTING BECOMING POORLY INFORMED.

What are the ways you ensure you are a well informed citizen? Lets list them as a class:

THE CHALLENGE IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The METHOD 

IF THIS IS TRUE, HOW POWERFUL ARE YOU MAKING YOURSELF TO CHANGE YOUR WORLD????

Ferguson Missouri Shooting Overview

We are using the ongoing situation in Ferguson Missouri as a vignette in which to analyze the difference between subjectivity (opinions, emotions) and objectivity (facts) it is important to break down the major aspects of this situation: 

Alleged Crime --->  Police Response ---> Police Encounter --->

Shooting Incident ---> Public Response to Shooting / Protest --->

Police Response to Public Response / Riot --->

Post Incident Investigation (Local / State / Federal) --->

Public Response to Grand Jury --->

Discussion Considerations: 

• Role of Leaders 
• Family
• Community
• Local / State / Federal

• Role of Media 
• Reporting News or Making News
• Subjective Reporting versus Objective Reporting
• Impact of Social Media
• What Would You Do Differently?
• 
  

Developing an Aptitude for Objectivity...Going from what you feel towards what you know

WORD BANK / CONCEPT BANK:  

OBJECTIVE              OPINION VERSUS FACT       ANALYSIS
RACE                         ROLE OF POLICE                   PROTEST     MEDIA / PRESS        PERCEPTION VERSUS REALITY
RACISM                     ABUSE OF POWER                RIOTING     FAIR and BALANCED REPORTING                      LEADERSHIP
SUBJECTIVE

Definitions:

• Subjective: placing excessive emphasis on one's mood, attitudes, and opinions.  

• Objective: not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice, based on facts, unbiased.

Task: Discuss the meaning of the words and concepts above. 


Food for Thought: This is foundational to start our journey on developing an aptitude for looking at each situation objectively and developing the ability to simultaneously maintain a balance between intellect and emotions.  

CASE STUDY: 

MICHAEL BROWN

FERGUSON, MISSOURI

DARREL WILSON

Task:  Take out your notebook and think about these three words and write what you know about them.  

Debate Teams by Class Periods and the Debate Template

This is the organization of each Debate Team per class period and the Debate Template for assigning Team Members. Refer to the previous blog posting for the overview of this module. 

Period 2:

Team US Intervention:
Shane (Team Leader)
Sianna (Asst. Tm Ldr)
Jake, Mechail, Davis S., Luis, Elijah

Team No US Intervention: 
Rene (Team Leader)
Guillermo (Asst. Tm Leader)
Angelique, Luz, Thomas, Jesus, Erby

Period 4:
Team US Intervention:
Johanna (Team Leader)
Christian (Asst. Tm Ldr)
Roshad, Josue, Trevor, Sam, Nico, Justin

Team No US Intervention:
Brendan (Team Leader)
Preet (Asst. Tm Ldr)
Jahmerikah, Helmuth, Kevin, Louis, Jennifer

Team Media Analysis: 
Sergio (Team Leader) 
Dylan (Review Team US Intervention), 
Alfred and Joseph (Review Team No US Intervention)


Period 6: 
Team US Intervention:
Nicole (Team Leader)
Michele (Asst. Tm Ldr)
Elias, Christian, Damaris, Patrick, Michael, David

Team No US Intervention:
Dillon (Team Leader)
Jennifer (Asst. Tm Ldr)
Amahd, Damian, Tyron, Brayan, Steven, Devon

Team Media Analysis: 
Joseph (Team Leader)
Natasha (Review Team US Intervention)
Arian (Review Team No US Intervention)


Period 7:  

Team US Intervention:
Thomas (Team Leader)
Mercy (Asst. Tm Leader)
James, Joseph, Robert, Peter, Anthony, Julian

Team No US Intervention:
Plinio (Team Leader)
Steven, Carlos, Christofer, Reid, Fatima, Deven

Team Media Analysis: 
Allen (Review Team US Intervention)
Tatiana (Review Team No US Intervention)

ORGANIZATION OF THE DEBATE: Used to assign tasks to individual team members and ensure all component tasks for the debate are assigned. 

OPENING STATEMENT: (2 mins) 

MAIN POINT 1: (1 min) 

MAIN POINT 2: (1 min) 

MAIN POINT 3: (1 min)

REBUTTAL FOR ADVERSARY MAIN PT 1: (1 min) 

REBUTTAL FOR ADVERSARY MAIN PT 2: (1 min)

REBUTTAL FOR ADVERSARY MAIN PT 3: (1 min)

CLOSING STATEMENT: (2 mins)

SEQUENCE OF THE DEBATE: 

1. We will flip a coin to determine which team goes first.

2. Team One will give their Opening Statement (2 mins), to then 

be followed by their Main Points One (1 min), Two (1 min), and 

Three (1 min). 

3. While Team One is providing their Main Points, 

Team Two Team Members Assigned for Rebuttals will analyze 

their adversary's respective Main Point and develop a rebuttal 

response (1 min in length) to it. 

4. Then Team Two will give their Opening Statement (2 mins), to 

then be followed by their Main Points One (1 min), Two (1 min), 

and Three (1 min). 

5. While Team Two is providing their Main Points, 

Team One Team Members Assigned for Rebuttals will analyze 

their adversary's respective Main Point and develop a rebuttal 

response (1 min in length) to it. 

6. Team One will offer their Rebuttal 1,2, and 3 statements. 

7. Team Two will offer their Rebuttal 1,2, and 3 statements. 

8. Team One Closing Statement.

9. Team Two Closing Statement.

10. If applicable, Team Media Analysis will provide feedback. 

Scoring: Students will be scored based upon their ability to meet 

their time goals and the quality of the content of their public 

speaking responses. Meeting the time goal is a function of their 

preparation and rehearsing their part of the debate. The most 

challenging time constraint will be the student's assigned the 

rebuttals which need to be developed in a shorter amount of time. I 

will modify by scoring due to the rigor of this task accordingly.  

BMHS Librarian Ms. Cathy Andronik Teaches Cadets About RESEARCH

On Tuesday, Ms. Andronik provided a lecture on research to assist the upperclassmen cadet's in deepening their understanding of research. Our focus on research has been to assist the cadets in their development of their BIG IDEA PROJECT to develop their own sense of innovation. If you missed the class or need a refresher click on the link below: 

LIBRARY LADY'S LINK TO RESEARCH TUTOTIAL

This link includes the following:

Catalog.pptx

DEWEY.ppt

tutorial on searching.pptx  

Part I of your Mid Term is about: Big Idea Project Review and Research Update. Conducting research and managing your information is key for your mid-term which is a separate blog entry. 

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE YOUR RESEARCH AND THE STATUS FOR YOUR PROJECTS.