(7th & 8th Grade Elective Course)
Introduction & Details:
I wanted to share with you information about an exciting program at Hawthorne and offer 7th and 8th grade students the opportunity to participate in during this school year. This program is called Global Ed 2, which is an interactive and online program with over 50 schools around the world, designed by The University of Chicago, The University of Maryland, and The University of Connecticut. We get students talking about social studies, science, and writing. Global Ed 2 is a problem-based learning (PBL) simulation that capitalizes on the multidisciplinary nature of social studies as an expanded curricular space to learn and apply science literacies, while simultaneously also enriching the curricular goals of social studies. Global Ed 2 requires students to understand important concepts related to social studies such as geography, culture, political systems and economics. However, to be successful in the simulation, GlobalEd 2 also requires that students develop an understanding of the underlying science concepts related to the simulation topic and be able to communicate within and across countries in the simulation using an argument-based model – which are all key Common Core objectives. Within each Global Ed 2 simulation, approximately 12-16 classrooms are recruited and assigned to represent the interests of specific countries focusing on an issue of global importance such as water scarcity, climate change or alternative energies. The Global Ed 2 program incorporates science, social studies and writing into a problem based learning curriculum. Global Ed 2 incorporates all aspects of common core instruction in an interactive simulation. Problem based learning will teach students to take charge of his/her learning, to become active rather than passive learners, solve problems, to negotiate solutions, evaluate their solutions, and learn to use their metacognitive skills. Students will focus on the issue of water consumption, depletion, and conservation then work towards achieving a mutually agreeable solution for their country and their counterparts. Students will serve as delegates or representatives of an assigned country, similar to the high school example of Model UN based on the United Nations meetings. Students will be assigned one of four issue areas with a global crisis to solve: Environment, Human Rights, Health Care, and Economics. Within their issue area, students will research, create opening/closing statements, and communicate directly with their counterparts that represent other “countries”. Each simulation consists of three phases: Research, Online Interaction and Debriefing, spanning about 14 weeks in the Fall semester. Students will learn how to be diplomatic and negotiate in an effective manner through the use of evidence based writing. The Global Ed 2 program has had a variety of positive impacts on students including enhancing science and social studies skills, incorporating evidence based writing and learning the skills of effective negotiation. I look forward to participating in this exciting simulation with your child. Read more: Global Ed 2 website
Global Ed 2 is designed for twenty to thirty highly motivated students. Global Ed 2 will be offered a place on a first come first serve basis to our 7th and 8th Grade students as an elective (extra) class with Mr. Streit. Students must turn in the Student Assent Forms (pink), Persuasive Essay (blue) Task, and Parental Permission Forms (cream) to Mr. Streit to be considered. Global Ed 2 will take place during working lunches, 2-3 classes per week in Mr. Streit's class during the Fall Semester (approximately 14 weeks).
The Global Ed 2 elective class will be graded, but grades will not appear on the student's report card. Instead, student's will earn a final grade to be used as a voucher or replacement grade. The voucher or replacement grade that can replace one major assessment (Assessment OF Learning) in the normal 7th and 8th Grade Social Science curriculum, excluding History Fair and the Constitution Test (Federal & State).