Research 101

After the group activities (Cadet Leader You Have a Dilemma and Edward Snowden: Hero or Traitor) where as small groups you were tasked with conduct hasty research from a variety of sources to solve a situation or make yourself more aware of a particular topic. We had a lecture ( Research 101 PowerPoint) in class on Tuesday that talked about research and how it is a critical skill in just about everything you do in life. FOR HOMEWORK, (due tomorrow Friday) I want you to watch the below video and make a summary comment in the blog comment section about WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT RESEARCH SO FAR???

VIDEO TO BE WATCHED FOR HOMEWORK: Watch this video lecture overview about Research from a college professor in Montana. Still watch the video when he talks about using the library because even though some of his university's college systems are different, the PROCESS (using a search database or library catalog) and FUNCTIONS (how to use the data base or library catalog) are similar. 

WHAT IS NEXT? On Monday, our class will receive a How to Use the BMHS Library for Your Research Class? Report to the library computer room on Monday. 

Edward Snowden: Hero or Traitor?

MY BASIC QUESTIONS: 

Who is he?

What did he do that is making him newsworthy

Where is he now?

When did he do the things that made him of interest to his country?

Why did he do the things that he did? 

Based upon the fact that we have talked about research, once formed in your groups determine the following:

Teacher forms groups

What is your group research GOAL? 


In order to manage your groups information, everyone must take notes, NOT JUST a group note-taker.

What specific SOURCES did you use in your research? Write them down. 

Above are some basic questions you need to research, write down the more SPECIFIC questions your group develops in researching the response to those basic questions. Make sure are you develop questions and research the answers you include the SOURCE OF THE ANSWERS WITH YOUR NOTE. 

Cadet Leader You Have A Dilemma

SITUATION: You are a student cadet at BMHS and have four cadets assigned to you as their leader.

WHAT NOW STUDENT LEADER??? One of the cadets you are responsible for comes to see you first thing in the morning and is very upset and needs to talk to you. This cadet says he has been accused of leaving campus the day prior and participating in unauthorized activities while off campus during the school day. He says he is innocent. He said he needs your help very badly.  

GROUP ACTIVITY: Form into your assigned small groups and develop a plan of action of how you would determine if that cadet was innocent or guilty of what he is being accused of. 

• Once the group members are designated, how should you organize your groups internally. 
• What are the key questions you need to find the answers to?
• What are the key tasks you need to accomplish to determine his guilt or innocence? 
• What are the sources you will use to determine his guilt or innocence? 

Take 20 minutes to accomplish this activity? Will conduct a class wide small group discussion facilitated by the teacher

Teenage Substance Abuse and Underage Drinking

Over the years when talking with students or hearing them discuss their social activities I have often perceived a student attitude of "what is the big deal about smoking a little weed (marijuana) or underage drinking?" Coupled with the attitude of "kids will be kids" and kids "experiment and taking risks is normal". When marijuana use and underage drinking is identified as an illegal activity, another common response is that "it is just a misdemeanor" which assumes that they are fully accepting that breaking a "small" level law is okay.

Let's watch this video of a teenager coming home from the dentist where he had oral surgery (wisdom tooth removal). He was given legal drugs by a doctor for the pain and  is still under the effects of the drugs. He is with his parents and they filmed his behavior for the humor of it. I think beyond the humor value the video shows how a person reacts when their body and mind is altered by drugs. While the video is humorous I want you to think beyond the humor value. Consider what if this teenager was in the backseat of a friend's car going to or coming back from a party under the influence of drugs...How might that be different...?

Class Activity: 
I. Pre-Video Discussion. Prior to seeing the blog post or watching the video, the class is broken down into small groups (4 to 5) sitting in small fishbowl groups. They will discuss the question, "What is the BIG DEAL about smoking a little weed or underage drinking?"

II. Read Blog Post & Watch Video: Teacher reads the blog post and orients class to the video. The class watches the video and is prompted to see beyond the intent of the original purpose of the video (humor) and views it from the perspective a teenager, their friend in a car under the influence of an illegal substance.

III. Post Viewing Discussion: Teacher facilitates a class discussion in relation to the behaviors observed by the teenager under the influence of legal drugs while recovering from oral surgery (wisdom teeth removed).  

A. Review the original small group notes taken prior to the video.

B. They now discuss their opinions in relation to the video and its impact on a teenager in an unsupervised social situation while under the impact of an illegal substance:
    (1) Mood Swings (Sad, Angry, Violent, Happy)

    (2) Brain Function: Certainty sometimes and other times being total clueless. Does the way he thinks make sense to him? Does he feel at times that there is nothing wrong with his reality?

    (3) Paranoia: Give examples, why is this a concern?

    (4) Potential for Danger or Unsafe Situation: Running Away, Driving, Going with people you don't know, not alert of aware of your surroundings, grab the wheel from the driver, cross the street in traffic, being physically taken advantage of by others, feeling you are superman or superwoman...

    (5) Social Media: captures embarrassing moments or illegal activities that will last forever...consequences to your future. 

IV.  In Class Group Assignment: Form up in the small groups you were in yesterday and draft a group guidance (advice) letter to freshmen cadets talking about the issue of substance abuse  (underage drinking and illegal drug use). This assignment will be turned in at the end of class. 

Learning to Write Code (Computer Programming)

I went to a teacher conference at the end of last week and they talked about an area that is key to innovation, and it is called Coding. This area is becoming a lost art. How does one program a computer to do something or solve a problem. Coding. It is about computational thinking, how to see problems and then how to solve or fix problems using technology. It is an area where many future jobs will be available in every field. Lets take a look at this...

There is this campaign sponsored by Computer Science Ed Week, called an Hour of Code, it runs from Dec 9 to Dec 15 so lets take a look.

Location of the Web-sight for the Tutorials: Click on Link below

Coding Tutorials

Homework Assignment: 
1. Determine Where you will do your Hour of Code? What computer & location will you be using?

2. Which Tutorial will you watch from the above Link?

3. Go to the Website and do the Hour of Code! It is okay if you program with a pair as a team, just let me know. 

4. You need to answer the top three questions by Tuesday (Close of Day on Dec 10th) by making a blog entry with your class period and first name & name of partner if you are pair programming.   

CEREMONIAL FLAG FOLDING

This class will be about learning to fold a flag ceremoniously. We often participate in flag appreciation ceremonies and other events where our flag is presented to family members as a tribute to their sacrifice for fallen service members. Proper flag etiquette is very important as a citizen, let alone as a member of a Navy JROTC unit. 

 The above video is a 6 person flag folding detail similar to an American Legion flag Appreciation Ceremony. 

The below video is a 2 person folding detail. While this video lacks the precision of a military unit like the US Army Old Guard or the Marines from 8th and I, it demonstrates the techniques. 

2 person How To Fold the American Flag

How is the POTUS Doing?

How is President Barack Obama doing as our President? 

1. Form into 5 person small groups.

2. Determine in your groups opinion how POTUS is doing both domestically and in foreign affairs?

3. Use all of the resources you have available.