Teaching Interdisciplinary Problem Solving Program

Christopher Columbus High School

English as a Second Language

Web Quest

Nora Tiao

INTRODUCTION

"A school environment provides the cornerstone for academic reform. By providing an equitable, accessible, healthy, supportive, secure and safe surrounding, the school and community support the educational goal that all children shall attain challenging and high standards, both personal and instructional."
- School Environment Institute, Improving America's Schools Conference, 1997

Students and school faculty are at risk of being victims of violence everyday in the presumably safe and supportive school environment. As a Public Policy Analyst, you will investigate the various existing policies as well as create solutions to creating a safe environment within which students can study and flourish.

TASKS

1. Using the TIPS-PPA model, you will create a public policy that will ensure safety in your school. Using computer technology, you will…

· Define one social problem that exists in your school.

· Gather evidence of the existence of the problem.

· Identify the causes of the problem

· Evaluate existing public policies concerning the problem

· Develop original alternatives to the current policy

· Select the best public policy solution

2 You will write a 1-page letter to an administrator to report your findings and to propose an alternative to the current policy.

3. You will deliver a Power Point presentation of your findings to the class. The Power Point presentation will have a minimum of 8 slides, contain graphics from the Internet, and include animation.

PROCESS

IN YOUR GROUPS YOU WILL:

1. Work cooperatively in groups of three

2. Use the Public Policy Analysis research guidelines to gather information about safety in schools.

3. Choose an additional web site to conduct your research.

4. Record your responses on the TIPS-PPA worksheets.

5. Develop solutions to create a safe environment in your school

RESOURCES:

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/welcome.html

htp://www.americanschoolsafety.com/

http://www.nea.org/issues/safescho/

http://www.columbushs.org./

http://www.nea.org/issues/safescho/

http://eric-web.tc.columbia.edu/digest/dig115.asp

http://helping.apa.org/warningsigns/about.html

http://www.inlucid.com

EVALUATION:

The project grade will be based upon the following evaluation

PowerPoint Rubric

ACTIVITY	4	3		2	1
Research and Notetaking	accurately researched varied information sources, recorded and interpreted statements, graphics and questions and evaluated alternative points of view.	recorded relevant information from multiple sources of information, evaluated and synthesized relevant information.		misinterpreted statements, graphics and questions	Did not record information
Introduction	presents the overall topic and draws the audience into the presentation with compelling questions	is clear and coherent and relates to the topic.		shows some structure but does not create a strong sense of what is to follow. is overly detailed or incomplete	does not orient the audience to what will follow.
Content	The content is written clearly and concisely with a logical progression of ideas and supporting information. The project includes motivating questions and advanced organizers that provide the audience with sense of the project’s main idea. Information is accurate, current and comes mainly from * primary sources.	The content is written with a logical progression of ideas and supporting information. Includes persuasive information from *primary sources.		The content is vague in conveying a point of view and does not create a strong sense of purpose. Includes some persuasive information with few facts. Some of the information may not seem to fit. *Primary source use is not always clear.	The content lacks a clear point of view and logical sequence of information. Includes little persuasive information and only one or two facts about the topic. Information is incomplete, out of date and/or incorrect. Sequencing of ideas is unclear.
Text Elements	The fonts are easy-to-read and point size varies appropriately for headings and text. Contains 8 slides Use of italics, bold, and indentations enhances readability. Text is appropriate in length for the target audience and to the point. The background and colors enhance the readability of text.	Sometimes the fonts are  easy-to-read, but in a few places the use of fonts, italics, bold, long paragraphs, color or busy background detracts and does not enhance readability. Contains 6 slides		Overall readability is difficult with lengthy paragraphs, too many different fonts, dark or busy background, overuse of bold or lack of appropriate indentations of text. Contins 4 slides	The text is extremely difficult to read with long blocks of  text and small point size of fonts, inappropriate contrasting colors, poor use of headings, subheadings, indentations, or bold formatting.
Layout	layout is aesthetically pleasing and contributes to the overall message with appropriate use of headings and subheadings and white space.	The layout uses horizontal and vertical white  space appropriately.		The layout shows some structure, but appears cluttered and busy or distracting with large gaps of white space or uses a distracting background.	The layout is cluttered, confusing, and does not  use spacing, headings and subheadings to enhance the readability.
Graphics, Sound and/or Animation	Graphics, sound and/or animation assist in presenting an overall theme and make visual connections that enhance understanding of concept, ideas and relationships. Original images are created using proper size and resolution, and all images enhance the content. There is a consistent visual theme.	Graphics, sound/and or animation visually depict material and assist the audience in understanding the flow of information or content. Original images are used. Images are proper size, resolution.		Some of the graphics, sounds, and/or animations seem unrelated to the topic/theme and do not enhance the overall concepts. Most images are clipart or recycled from the WWW. Images are too large/small in size. Images are poorly cropped or the color/resolution is fuzzy.	The graphics, sounds, and/or animations are unrelated to the content. Graphics do not enhance understanding of the content, or are distracting decorations that create a busy feeling and detract from the content.
Writing Mechanics	The text is written with no errors in grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.	The text is clearly written with little or no editing required for grammar, punctuation, and spelling.		Spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors distract or impair readability. (3 or more errors)	Errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, usage and grammar repeatedly distract the reader and major editing and revision is required. (more than 5 errors)
Persuasive Essay and Worksheets	Worksheets are complete Letter is well crafted and demonstrates superior use of the conventions of standard written English		Worksheets are complete Letter contains acceptable usage of he conventions of standard written English	Worksheets are complete Letter contains weak usage of the conventions of standard written English	Worksheets are Incomplete Letter does not use the conventions of standard written English

ELA Standards:

1. Students will read and write for information and understanding

2. StudeYHUJnts will read and write for literary response and expression

3. Students will read and write for critical analysis and evaluation

4. Student will speak and listen for social interaction

CONCLUSION

Upon your successful completion of this research using the TIPS Public Policy Analyst guidelines, you will have gained a better understanding of the school environment in which you learn, study, and socialize. You will have identified the factors affecting safety in your school, evaluated existing school policies, developed an alternative policy, and evaluated its feasibility as well as its effectiveness. Next, you will have presented your findings in a persuasive letter to a public official. Finally, you will have made an oral presentation using the Power Point program.