https://padlet.com/cbeverlin/djv4ufa41dsc Made with serendipity en-us 2018-04-12 01:07:07 UTC 2018-04-12 01:59:24 UTC hello@padlet.com cbeverlin https://padlet.com/cbeverlin/djv4ufa41dsc/wish/250968150 Mr. Schultz an 8th grade Language Arts teacher decided that he wanted to update his unit based on social justice unit. The unit had become an ordinary writing assignment in which students were not engaged and were left feeling that the content was irrelevant. Mr. Schultz decided to seek out advice within his PLN. After touching base with a technology expert, he realized that he could make the unit interactive with the use of the internet. 
1. Mr. Schultz spend time brainstorming and planning the unit with his PLN and technology coordinator. He decided that students were more engaged in local issues, that could and were happening globally. 
2. Mr. Schultz surveyed students to determine which of the four issues they felt passionate about. 
3. A LiveBinder was made to use on the interactive whiteboard and to share with students. This binder would be filled with information, articles, opinions and message forums about each issue. 
4. Students and teachers from around the country were invited to converse about each issue for one class period. Students spend the hour messaging and video chatting to gain a better understanding of their topic. 
5. Finally, students collaboratively researched their respective topic and began writing the rough drafts to their argumentative topic. 
This strategy was a way to introduce technology and enhance local issues to a global scale. By using this strategy students were able to interact and think critically about a topic that could easily be mundane. ]]> 2018-04-12 01:24:43 UTC https://padlet.com/cbeverlin/djv4ufa41dsc/wish/250968150 cbeverlin https://padlet.com/cbeverlin/djv4ufa41dsc/wish/250970457 As a small school social studies teacher, I teach all social studies courses to junior high and high school students. One class that I have struggled with throughout the years is Contemporary Issues. This is an elective class for high school students and the range of students varies drastically. I have always had a hard time making global connections and forcing students to realize the issues happening around the country and world do affect their lives. Recently, I have came across a website called The Learning Network. This is a website ran and operated  by the New York Times. The website offers teachers lesson plans and interactive activities in the subjects of social studies and language arts. The aspect that I will begin using is named Student Opinion.
- This tool allows students to write and share their opinions and research about a given controversial topic. For example, students read a short article about the idea of valuing animal rights in a time when human lives are at danger. Students read the article, think about their opinion, then write their opinion on a public forum. Students can then comment and converse with one another. Teachers can view these comments and assess students.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/11/learning/is-it-wrong-to-focus-on-animal-welfare-when-humans-are-suffering.html?]]> 2018-04-12 01:36:50 UTC https://padlet.com/cbeverlin/djv4ufa41dsc/wish/250970457