With the digital age upon us creating an environment that cultivates the attributes of the digital citizen in the classroom is imperative, and all the more challenging in the alternate environment. Many students within the alternate classroom have increased struggles with moderating use, and frequently allow impulse to guide their technology use. Trying to model constructive digital behaviour, especially when the majority of students have personal cell phones and the school providing Wi-Fi has been an on-going challenge.
This month we have had a focus on what it means to educate yourself and others with technology use. Studying our local municipal election and the American mid-terms gave us plenty of fodder for learning how to digest the many opposing positions. There was an emphasis on developing critical thinking skills to help understand the political climate. Students were asked to dissect platforms, and separate subjective and objective statements, while seeking corroborating evidence to back-up substantial claims. Students in the class enjoyed learning about the many candidates, and their platforms, in the highly controversial Chilliwack school trustee election. The election created a significant divide in Chilliwack, those for SOGI 123, and those apposing it. Students learned how personal opinion can be masked as ‘fact’, and the difference between anecdotes and controlled studies. Our culminating activity is happening today, as we have Paul Henderson, one of the lead journalists for the Chilliwack Progress, come to our class to talk about what it means to be a journalist in a time where journalistic integrity is often criticized by those on the fringe political spectrums. Paul will talk to the class about writing with integrity, and how to put bias aside and focus on the facts. We are grateful for this opportunity, and I look forward to sharing about how it went.
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AuthorsThe Education Centre's Outdoor Education Class!!! Archives
May 2019
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