Thursday, December 17, 2015

All Classes: New Codes in PowerSchool: NES and IES

Hi folks,

I've made a little video to help explain two new codes in our PowerSchool gradebook that you will only encounter in my classes: IES (Insufficient Evidence Submitted) and NES (No Evidence Submitted by Choice).  Please share this with your folks as it can be a little confusing when you look at PowerSchool and don't know what's up.

In a nutshell, NES means you chose not to submit any evidence for that standard for that assessment -- typically the weekly blog posts.

IES means you have not submitted enough evidence for that standard for me to report out a numerical grade yet.   If we get within three weeks of the end of the quarter and I do not have enough evidence, I will have to change this to NM (Not yet Meets) a.k.a. 50 and it will have a major impact on your grade.

If you see a Missing in the grade book, that's something YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT UP.  Missings become NM when they are not completed.  It's what separates a Missing from NES.

UPDATE: 1.4.15.  Was just informed that the audio on the video doesn't work.  I'll try to make a new version this week.  





Friday, December 11, 2015

Humanities Speak & Music


"Face Down" by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus


Find the lyrics on your preferred lyrics site.


"Sic Transit Gloria"  by Brand New

Find the lyrics on your preferred lyrics site.


Choose one of the two songs above, create a sketchnote that shows the connections between the lyrics, the music, the video, and Speak.  You might want to focus on symbolism and more abstract, complex connections.

As a creative challenge for your blog, find another song and create sketchnote, written explanation or vlog that connects that song to Speak.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Humanities: Sanctuary for Others Rubric

Sanctuary for Others Design Challenge
Single Point Rubric
Design a sanctuary for one of the following:
  • a character from the book that is not Melinda
  • a refugee, immigrant or asylum seeker
  • someone in our class with whom you do not have a close relationship (push yourself to stronger empathy)


Criteria
Evidence of Exceeding the Standard (clever, insightful, unique, powerful, meaningful, professional)
What Meeting the Standard Looks Like
Evidence of Needs for Improvement (gaps, missing pieces or evidence, incomplete thoughts)
Prototype Quality (MEDIA)

I like how your prototype looks like a finished product that you can present to the class; I like how there are no obvious signs that you didn’t get it finished -- even though there may be ways in which you might improve it; I like that it shows evidence you understand how to use the media you chose to solve the problem in an effective way

Research and Connections (RESEARCH)

I like how your prototype clearly shows numerous accurate connections to your research (text, video, audio); I like how your explanations include page numbers/time stamps and quoted text as evidence to show that you really know what you are talking about; I like how you wrote or recorded your explanations; I like that you included an MLA formatted works cited page

Features & Intentions
(SOCIAL STUDIES)

I like how your sanctuary demonstrates numerous, dynamic features of a safe space for your user; I like how you explain your intentions for each feature of the sanctuary  fully whether in writing, audio or video

PRESENTATION
(LISTENING & SPEAKING)

I like how your presentation was clear and easily understood; even if you weren’t working from a script, you seemed very well prepared and comfortable sharing the information about your tiny house;  you were able to field and answer questions asked about your tiny house

MUGS
(MUGS)

I like how any writing included is properly spelled and features proper use of any words on Commonly Mistaken Words 1

Empathy
(HABITS of MIND)

I like how you clearly show an understanding of your user’s needs and how to meet them; I like how you connect your ideas in your sanctuary to the needs of your user you were able to identify from your research

Timeliness
(HABITS of MIND)

I like how you turned it in within 24 hours of the agreed upon due date


Design Challenge Checklist (And the DEEP Design Thinking Phases connected)
  1. Define Sanctuary and Identify Examples (DISCOVERY Phase)
    1. What are different forms sanctuary can take?
    2. How might it look?
  2. User and User Needs Identified (EMPATHY Phase)
    1. Necessary research (interviews, articles, novel) conducted
    2. Empathy maps completed
  3. Experiment with Sanctuary Features (EXPERIMENT Phase)
    1. Rapid fire prototyping
    2. Explore possibilities
    3. Create a working prototype linked to user needs
      1. 3-D or 2-D, using any materials/tools that serve your purpose
      2. Suggested: 2-D art, SketchUp, Minecraft, LEGO, cardboard, wood, photography
  4. Produce and Present Your Prototype (PRODUCE Phase)
    1. Deliver a presentation
    2. Subject your prototype to 4 Corners feedback
    3. Revise and reiterate your prototype


5. Written Reflection (WRITING - new rubric and criteria to come after presentations)

NOTE FOR BLOGGING!  Any and all of the work above can be posted on your blog to demonstrate your understanding of the various standards.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Eng 9: Tiny House Project Rubric and Checklist

We started today with the Alcohol Awareness video.

From there we discussed the Tiny House, Big Dreams design challenge and collaborated on designing a rubric.

I took our notes from the marker board, the conversation we had, and developed this single point rubric.

Tiny House, Big Dreams  Design Challenge
Single Point Rubric

Criteria
Evidence of Exceeding the Standard (clever, insightful, unique, powerful, meaningful, professional)
What Meeting the Standard Looks Like
Evidence of Needs for Improvement (gaps, missing pieces or evidence, incomplete thoughts)
Prototype Quality (MEDIA)

I like how your prototype looks like a finished product that you can present to the class; I like how there are no obvious signs that you didn’t get it finished -- even though there may be ways in which you might improve it; I like that it shows evidence you understand how to use the media you chose to solve the problem in an effective way

Text Connections (READING)

I like how your prototype clearly shows numerous accurate connections to the characters’ needs from the book; I like how your explanations include page numbers and quoted text as evidence to show that you really know what you are talking about; I like how you wrote or recorded your explanations

Facts & Figures (RESEARCH)

I like how you’ve identified the essential costs of building the prototype (roofing, exterior, heating, lumber, plumbing, doors and windows, electrical) and the essential specifications (HxWxL, sq. ft, footprint, room and feature layout) and identified the source of your numbers using a proper MLA formatted bibliography

PRESENTATION
(LISTENING & SPEAKING)

I like how your presentation was clear and easily understood; even if you weren’t working from a script, you seemed very well prepared and comfortable sharing the information about your tiny house;  you were able to field and answer questions asked about your tiny house

MUGS
(MUGS)

I like how any writing included is properly spelled and features proper use of its/it’s, to/too/too and capitalization

Empathy
(HABITS of MIND)

I like how you clearly show an understanding of these characters’ needs and how to meet them

Timeliness
(HABITS of MIND)

I like how you turned it in within 24 hours of the agreed upon due date


Design Challenge Checklist (And the DEEP Design Thinking Phases connected)
  1. All Four Dreamers’ Needs Identified (EMPATHY Ph)
    1. Quotes and Page Numbers Found
    2. Specific Needs for Each Character Found
  2. Tiny House Dimension and Specifications Researched (DISCOVERY)
    1. Dimensions and Features of a Tiny House Identified
    2. Costs of Construction Researched
  3. Tiny House Prototype Designed and Constructed (EXPERIMENT)
    1. Tiny House Designed
      1. Dreamers Needs Show Up in the Design
      2. Created in Wood, Cardboard, LEGO, Minecraft, Drawing, or Something Else
4. Tiny House Prototype Shared & Given Feedback (PRODUCE)
  1. Plan and deliver 3 to 5 minute presentation
  2. You Might Want to Put All of Your Information in a Keynote, Google Doc, Google Slides, Prezi, (or another presentation format)
  3. Get Feedback from 4 Corners Feedback session after presentations

5. Written Reflection (WRITING - new rubric and criteria to come after presentations)

NOTE FOR BLOGGING!  Any and all of the work above can be posted on your blog to demonstrate your understanding of the various standards.  The graphic organizers we have used could all be evidence if they are embedded into your blog posts.

SHOW YOUR THINKING.
Blog.
1+ Posts.
Due. Friday. 12.11.15.
Critical Creativity Challenge: Show Your Work -- Tiny House Challenge. Share drawings, doodles, and the process of creating your tiny house.

Design Challenge. Tiny House, Big Dreams.
Complete Design. (See Rubric and Checklist)
Prepare. Presentation.
Due. Friday 12.11.15.

Study.
Roots List 6.
Quiz. Wednesday. 12.9.15

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Pop Culture: Documentary Design Challenge: Discovery Phase: Ideating!

Today we continue in DISCOVERY Phase with our Documentary Design Challenge.

HMW Design a 3 Minute Documentary in 18 Days?

which is really . . .

HMW design a documentary?

which is really . . .

HMW capture reality in a compelling, interesting way?

which is really . . .

HMW we turn truth into entertainment?

DISCOVERY Phase.

To get ideas going for your documentaries, we will use a technique called 8 Box.

Step 1.  Fold a piece of paper into 8 boxes.

Step 2.  You will have 60 seconds to doodle your ideas for a documentary in Box 1.  

Steps 3-9.  You will have another 60 seconds to doodle in the next available box.  You may expand on your ideas from Box 1.   Or you may start a completely new idea.  Keep in mind the discovery work you have done.

Step 10.  You have 10 minutes to doodle and sketchnote and label your design for a three minute documentary.  We will be sharing these, giving and receiving feedback.  Make  sure you title your design.

Step 11.  Feedback round via sticky notes.  You'll be using tiny sticky notes to share feedback.

Step 12.  Use the feedback to help make decisions in your team as you embark on creating your prototype!   

From there, you will investigate articles, videos, and other sources about the PROCESS of documentary filmmaking.   We will use Diigo to keep a master list of all the resources we find as a class.  Check your email and use your school e-mail to register.  Using Diigo will let us see what other folks are finding so we don't have duplicate efforts -- we can share resources and thinking.

Each link should be accompanied by a one sentence summary AND a short (2 - 3 sentence) explanation of why you think it would be helpful to our designing.  If everyone posts at least one resource today, that gives us a fantastic pile of information from which to draw inspiration.

I'll circulate around and show design teams the steps to posting on Diigo.  Once registered, it's really a copy and paste and tag situation.  We probably should have been using this instead of Pinterest, though it's not visual which makes me sad.


Show Your Thinking.
Blog.
1+ Post Due Friday. 12.4.15
Optional Critical Creativity Challenges:
Option 1.  Document your week using only emojis.  Be as specific as possible.
Option 2. Watch and review a complete documentary.  It may be from our lists or another you've discovered.
Option 3. Gamify Your Life.  What if your life was a game?  What shape would it take? How would it be played?

Documentary Design Challenge.  Discovery Phase.
Watch. Clips of at least 3 other documentaries.
Complete a new  Q and Q form based on the documentaries you watch.  Be sure to identify which doc spurs which thinking.
Due. Wednesday. 12.2.15

Discovery Phase.
Research.  Post 2-3 resources on Diigo with a single sentence summary for each and 2-3 sentences explaining how each might be helpful.
Due. Friday. 12.4.15
Counts as Research Standard Evidence.

Documentary Due.
Friday. 12.18.15.

Film Culture Project and One-Page Self-Reflection/Analysis.
Past Due. 11.1.15

Phrankenomena and 3 Questions.
Due. 12.4.15




Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Humanities: Stations & Speak

We will have six stations through which to work today.  Some will have specific spaces associated with them.  Others may be done anywhere in the room.  Try new perspectives and new positions in the room.  You might be surprised at how a change of scenery can influence your thinking.

1. No Red Ink:  Commonly Mistaken Words Practice 2  (Quiz Thursday)

2. Speak Ranking Periods 1 & 2:  Character SketchNotes  (Great Reading, Show Your Thinking & Creativity work)

3. Roots 6: Quizlet  (Quiz Next Thursday)

4.  Comparison Matrix: Merriweather, McKinley, Mt. Blue (Due tomorrow -- great Reading work)

5.  Blogging:  Standards, Rubric & Quality Check

6.  Mt. Blue Map 2  (great Social Studies and Show Your Thinking work)

7.  Speak Ranking Periods 1 & 2: Foreshadowing.  Answer this Q on your blog.  What could be foreshadowing in Speak?  Identify page numbers and power quotes, then explain your thinking.   (Great Reading, Voice, Details, and Show Your Thinking work)

SHOW YOUR WORK
Blog. 
1+ Posts.
Due. Friday. 12.4.2015
Critical Creativity Challenge:  An Art Gallery for Speak.
Visit MOMA.orgPortland Museum of Art,  MFA.org or another online art gallery from a gallery that exists in the brick and mortar world (a place people could physically visit) and select three or more pieces of art that you would include in a gallery to represent the ideas in Speak.

Read.
Speak.  107 to 119.
Due. Tuesday.  12.1.2015

Complete.
Comparison Matrix.
Due. Wednesday. 12.2.2015

Be Thinking.
HMW we Design a Sanctuary for Others? 
Due. TBA.  Before Holiday Break for Certain.

Submit! 
Capture Our Culture.  Photo Essay.
Past Due.