BIG IDEA TIME...TIME TO DELIVER !!!

TIME TO ACTUALLY GET STARTED ON YOUR BIG IDEA PROJECT!!! You are going to actually give "birth" to your big idea that is going to have an impact on the world... home... school... neighborhood...community...church...team...organization...city... state... country...or the globe.

This project is YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW YOURSELF HOW AWESOME YOU ARE.  

Class Activity: Based on our last class and blog entry, you were tasked to be ready to state your innovative big idea in today's class. 

1. Look at the whiteboard in the front of the class, and you will see five different colored papers with an innovation category (STEM-Social) written on each. 

Innovation Categories and Corresponding Colors: 

Science: Red, Technology: Orange, Engineering: Blue, Math: Brown

Social: Green

2. Take two minutes and confirm what category you are curious or passionate about (this guidance is not new to you). Go to the back of the room and take a small colored piece of paper associated with the innovation category your big idea originates from and return to your seats. 

3. Teacher will groups students by their innovation category (colored piece of paper) into small fishbowl (circular) groups. 

Group interaction: 

Small Group: One person at a time presents their "big idea" to your group and each person provides feedback, not agreement or disagreement to their idea. They rotate until each person has presented their idea and received & provided feedback. 

Large Group (Class): Once small group interaction is done then, they will each present their idea to the entire class which provides their idea to exposure to the potential collaboration with other ideas from other categories. 

4. Each student will write their big idea on their colored piece of paper and turn it into teacher by the end of class. 

The Big Idea Journey has begun, you have taken the first step....

When Was the Last Time You Heard a Reporter Offer a Balanced (Albeit Emotional) Perspective?

Current Affairs Update: We have talked about the Affordable Healthcare Act...the Debt Crisis...the Housing Crisis...the Debt Ceiling...considerable discussion in the media about what is wrong with our country and unfortunately depending upon the political slant of the particular news channel you will often hear the media blame one particular party or another. 

Word / Concept Bank:
Apolitical      News Media   Freedom of Speech    Fourth Estate  Press   Bias    Media Bias

Let's watch a video (with some biases of its own) that talks about the cost of Media Bias on our Elections: 

Classroom Activity / Associated Homework:

1. Form into three separate groups.

2. Watch the first video which is of a MSNBC media reporter getting emotional but voicing what appears to be a balanced perspective of blame towards both parties and the demand for the POTUS to step up and lead the country to start to fix this crisis.

3. Review & Discuss the Word / Concept Bank as a class.

4. Watch the second video on Media Bias which gives a look at how a CNN Reporter (typically viewed as a liberal reports about the Tea Party (grassroots ultra Conservative Republican party group).

5. Discuss your impressions as a group and your HOMEWORK is to make an individual blog entry (minimum of a paragraph) of your opinion whether or not you think their is bias in our news media? and why?

What Does Courage Look Like?

You have heard of the Navy SEALs from SEAL Team 6. We look at athletes who play hurt and still perform as being courageous. These are people who make a choice to participate in the activities that put them in challenging situations. How about a 15 year old girl? Can she be courageous? How many of you heard of Malala?

She has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, listen to her message and attitude:

What Is The Message Malala teaches us? What do you think of her message...?

Small Group Discussion: Break up into small 3 person groups and discuss. Be prepared to discuss in class afterward. 

Changed the Name..Your Big Idea Project

I called it your Cadet Innovation Project (CIP), but I am not sure if we need a Name Change. We talked about Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Social oriented projects you can choose and develop in order for YOU to change the school, your community, city, state, country, or the World???

WORD / CONCEPT BANK:

INNOVATION    ENTREPRENEURSHIP     MENTOR

MENTEE     RIDICULE    PIVOT   CONTAGIOUS

STAKEHOLDERS

Here is a video that talks about Social Innovation and the creation process: 

Here is a video on the importance of STEM Education: 

So What Is Your Big Idea To Change Somebody's World...?

Is it related to: 

Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or a Social Topic...?

Homework for the Long Weekend: 

1. Watch both videos for background. 
2. Determine your first guess on YOUR BIG IDEA for your Innovation Project and Bring it (Your Big Idea) to class on Tuesday. 

THINK BIG......

What Did Your Group Get Done...? Camouflaged Socializing vs Getting Something Done

As we hear Ashton's words of wisdom, what do you think??? 

• Do you need to be some other than you are to be successful?
• Opportunity looks like Hard Work. (Agree or disagree)
• Being SMART, THOUGHTFUL, and GENEROUS is what...?
• Is your present state of productivity (getting your work done) the way it is?

What does the phrase WORK ETHIC mean? (Click on the hyperlink)

Think of what Ashton said in relation to the INDIVIDUAL work ethic of each of you during this assignment so far and the GROUP work ethic of your debate group. 

How would you describe your group's performance so far?

Period 2?
Period 4?
Period 6?
Period 7?

DEBATE: AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE ACT

Learning to Debate In Class

1. Watch the Link Above the Picture.

2. Re-watch the Affordable Healthcare Act Video from the previous post.

3. Form up into two debate groups FOR and AGAINST the Affordable Healthcare Act. Two students (one male & one female)  will be the moderators and will structure and run the debate. Debaters Conduct research on Monday night and be prepared to debate on Tuesday in class.

4. Each Debate Team will present an Opening Statement (2 minutes) and two main points (1 1/2 minutes each). Each team will use some visual aid during the debate. There may be an opposing question and answer period if there is time available. 

5. We will also assess the group dynamic of each debate team to determine a baseline for future group work. 

What is Going On With Our Government???

What is Going On with our Government...?  Debt Ceiling...Debt Crisis....? Sequestration....Obama-care...Housing Bubble...Hedge Funds....Unemployment and Underemployment....

WORD / CONCEPT BANK: Lets discuss what some of these terms mean

3 Branches of Govt          3 Levels of Govt      Budget     Debt     Deficit     Taxes     
Types of Taxes     Politics     Healthcare    Insurance Companies   Premiums   Uninsured  Underinsured   Pre-exisitng medical condition     

Question: How do people pay for Healthcare? (Use salary or receive a job benefit)


Lets take a look at this thing they call the Debt limit...

Now lets look at Affordable Healthcare or Obama Care...

Now lets take a look at the federal government shutdown...

This video is the stereotypical "Its politics and its boring and I am sure it will just get fixed..."

This video is a more balanced overview: See how it impacts on a family...?

Final Comment:  One of the reasons the citizenry of America are in this situation is because many Americans remain uninformed about what the government they elected is doing or not doing. If individual citizens take a "what is in it for me" attitude instead of "what is best for our country" attitude than this problem will continue to get worse until our country's stability is further eroded. This attitude can manifest itself in the politicians who represent us at the local, state, and federal level. If a politician supports and votes for issues primarily because of "what is best for my political party" instead of "what is best for our country" this will accelerate our national issues at home and abroad. 

Homework: For tonight

1. Watch the Affordable Healthcare Video (9 minutes) with an Adult in your House and Discuss its impact on you.

2. Make a blog entry in the comment section (at end) of this posting that captures the main point of your discussion at home about the video. (Include what period you are in and first name only).