Submitted by: Amanda Hall
Collaborators: Garry Marshall
School: Fairfield Middle School
Summary
Students chose to raise awareness about the negative impacts of mountain-top removal in Southwest Virginia as a class project.
The Research Team used the Big 6 to evaluate research sources and to ensure the use of best practices. They used SchoolSpace file sharing to get information to the other teams. They also communicated this information via SchoolSpace Chat. The Research Team contacted necessary publishing entities to gain permission to use specific images, information, and/or videos relevant to the class project.
The Communication Team decided to create a web site with a blog in order to raise awareness about mountain-top removal outside the classroom. The website was created in order to have their voice heard on a large scale. Their web site contains videos, information about mountain-top removal, support from local organizations, and a blog for discussion.
The Action Team chose to create a PSA for the school-wide morning announcements, a community petition to stop mountain-top removal in southwest VA, write a letter to VA Governor McDonnell lobbying for legislation to stop mountain-top removal in VA, and taking action by joining and communication with local/national/global organizations that also want to stop mountain-top removal.
TIPC Ratings
Teacher is facilitating and assessing research skills, requiring students to document all sources. Students have been taught research skills and now utilize them to find, evaluate, and use information to accomplish real-world tasks.
Teacher facilitates and assesses student communication within and without the classroom.
Students communicate in real (chosen groups and roles) and non-real time (chat, e-mail) with students and professionals in and out of their own classroom. Students formed their own teams to solve an authentic problem.
Teacher posed an authentic, higher-order problem with multiple solutions that requires students to use research in order to design a solution. Students use technology to collaborate.
Teacher has students applying critical thinking, research, and communication skills in order to solve an authentic problem. Students are allowed to demonstrate creativity through their own avenues, using appropriate tools for their specific chosen tasks.
