It just occurred to me as I typed the title to this post that I should probably let them loose to discuss "2012" prophesy as a way to launch the project. Should we even watch the movie, or parts? I think I'd like to show "Firebird" from Fantasia 2000, which I haven't shown in a couple of years. I just love it. Anyway, I'm seriously considering teaching some traditional content in the area of earthquakes, plate tectonics, and weather in place of the "student lessons" I did last year. I just didn't feel they got much of anything out of it, because at this point in the year, and this point in the history of US education, my students aren't independent at all. Zero, nada, zilch. Sit and git, feed and regurgitate, game the system for grades. Makes me want to regurgitate. I could give them a choice as to the order we do it in, and each class could go at it a bit differently.
As far as the process and product this year, I think they will engage with it and do good research. I think I will have more access in my room because more students have touches, smartphones, tablets, etc. I'd like to try google docs again if possible because that seemed to work well for brainstorming.
I'm also thinking about the 21st C. targets and rubric. I plan on assessing progress in cooperation and communication, or even plain old participation. Last year's student assessments were not successful because they aren't accustomed to seriously evaluating each other. Should we brainstorm some goals for working together? Let them draft the rubric? I will do the assessing, but they come up with targets and rubrics. I think that will work better.
