This WebQuest is meant to teach students how technology can be used to research social issues, gather information from various viewpoints, and present it to an audience in a meaningful, clear way.
For this WebQuest, students will form groups of 2-4 to investigate a social issue of their choice over the course of five days. Each day the students will explore another aspect of student-led activism and how technology is being used in modern civil, social, and political activism. There is a mixture of small group discussion, group writing assignments, and individual writing assignments for each module. On the final day, each group researches and creates a proposal for how to utilize technology to support a social cause.
Tennessee State Academic Standards:
Computer Technology/Computer Literacy: Grades 9-12
(Retrieved from https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/standards/comp-tech/std_comptech_comp-lit.pdf)
Students will utilize technology problem-solving and decision-making tools.
7.1 Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions.
7.2 Students employ technology in the development of strategies for solving problems in the real world.
All students should have opportunities to demonstrate the following performances. Prior to completion of Grade 12 students will:
- Routinely and efficiently use online information resources to meet needs for collaboration, research, publication, communication, and productivity.
- Investigate and apply expert systems, intelligent agents, and simulations in real-world situations.
- Collaborate with peers, experts, and others to contribute to a content-related knowledge base by using technology to compile, synthesize, produce, and disseminate information, models, and other creative works.
ISTE Standards for Students:
(Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/for-students)
2: Digital Citizen
Students recognize the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of living, learning and working in an interconnected digital world, and they act and model in ways that are safe, legal and ethical.
- 2c: Students demonstrate an understanding of and respect for the rights and obligations of using and sharing intellectual property.
6: Creative Communicator
Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals.
- 6d: Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.
7: Global Collaborator
Students use digital tools to broaden their perspectives and enrich their learning by collaborating with others and working effectively in teams locally and globally.
- 7a: Students use digital tools to connect with learners from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, engaging with them in ways that broaden mutual understanding and learning.
- 7b: Students use collaborative technologies to work with others, including peers, experts or community members, to examine issues and problems from multiple viewpoints.
- 7d: Students explore local and global issues and use collaborative technologies to work with others to investigate solutions.
This WebQuest is based on the New York Times Lesson Plan "The Power to Change the World: A Teaching Unit on Student Activism in History and Today" by Katherine Schultan, published March 7, 2018.
The Power to Change the World: A Teaching Unit on Student Activism in History and Today
Description: This WebQuest is based on the teaching unit by Katherine Schulten, published by the New York Times in March 2018. You can find additional ideas and resources related to the topic at this link.
Student Activism Impact Assessment Handout
Description: Each student will need a copy of this handout at the beginning of the assignment. You can also download the file from the original website: https://static01.nyt.com/files/2018/learning/StudentActionTable.pdf