Learning Goal: Students will be able to define what a school curriculum is and explain its purpose.
Hook: What is Wrong With School?
In your groups, I would like you to write on your desks (with the dry erase marker I give you) what you believe is wrong with school. **Everything you write must be appropriate, it cannot name/call out in anyway specific teachers, and you must share the marker.**
After a few minutes, we will share what you wrote on your desk. I also will come around and take a picture of what you wrote.
What Do You Do All Day?
So as we move forward, I would like to to keep those things you just came up with in your mind but let's shift our focus to what your own life is like. Again I would like you to work as a group but this time I would like you to come up with a list of what you typically do every week and how much time you spend on these activities. Below is a list to give you few ideas of what to include in your own list.
Doing homework?
Playing video games?
Watching TV, Netflix, or Hulu?
On the internet?
Working on your hobbies or side projects?
Doing chores?
On Facebook and/or Twitter?
Reading books for school?
Reading for your own enjoyment?
How many times do you use Google in a day to look something up?
Doing extracurricular activities (sports, clubs)?
Sleep?
Texting? or Snapchatting?
On your phone?
On two screens at once (TV + phone or TV + computer)
E-mailing?
Socializing with friends?
A Day in the Life of Future You
What do you think it takes to be a successful adult? What does a successful adult do? What do they look like? What do you think defines a successful adult?
After our short conversation, I would like you to take a few minutes to brainstorm some skills you think all successful adults need to have. Please work alone to do this. You may use your own observations, experience, as well as resources on the internet to do this activity.
What is a Curriculum?
To clarify what a curriculum is, we will look at the article below from the Ed Glossary.org
Homework: Creating a Curriculum to Create Successful Adults
So now that we have discussed what we believe is wrong with school as well as where we all are now in our lives and what we need to become successful adults. What I would like you to do for homework is to create a curriculum will teach you the skills you believe will make you a successful adult. Keep in mind this idea of how we can make schools more innovative and more useful for students. I would like you to tell me what classes you would create, what the goals you want the students to be able to reach before they graduate, and how you will ensure all students will succeed in your model. Please write me at least 1 page (200-400 words) about the curriculum you would create.
To help you get some ideas for what you should include in your curriculum I have embedded a few videos that should inspire you. Some of them are about our future with technology, how teachers look at school, and others talk about what we can do to re-imagine schools. As a class we will pick a few to watch before you move on to our next class.