MODERN WORLD HISTORY COMMON ASSIGNMENT PROMPTS

The following are some specific "Persuasive Essay" prompts some of you sent in for "Modern World History" . There are some great ideas here. Please post your ideas as comments to this post and share the wealth.

1. Write an editorial about the British Industrial Revolution. Were the overall effects of the Industrial Revolution positive or negative? Pick one side to argue. Write from the perspective of a British citizen.

2. As a culminating assignment for History Alive! Modern World History activity 2.4 in the “Communist China and Modern Japan” unit students write a persuasive essay in the affirmative or the negative concerning the following statements “Education of Japanese students and American students is mostly the same.”

3. As a culminating assignment for History Alive! Modern World History activity 3.1 in the “Modern Latin America” unit students write a proposal for how the resources of the Amazon rainforest should be used.

4. Should oil drilling be allowed in the Amazon? Discuss multiple perspectives. Include and defend your position, citing evidence.

5. Who or what is to blame for instability in Africa today? The colonial powers, corrupt dictators, militias and warlords, the people themselves? Responsibility can be shared by multiple groups. If you think only one group is responsible, explain why the other groups are not.

Wi-Fi In Your Room

Click on the image below for quick instructions on how to connect to the wireless network in your building.

Travel Study Opportunity with The "Teaching American History" Program

This could be an amazing opportunity to travel abroad and work with teachers and professors from France and Germany.
I am considering writing a very special "Teaching American History" grant that would enable teachers to do summer travel study trips to France and Germany. This is a long term project, the travel study trips would take place during the summers of 2010, 2011, and 2012. (Wow, it is hard for me to think that far ahead.)

The first data I need to collect in order to move forward is about level of interest.

My question to you is "How interested are you in a opportunity like this?"

Please read the linked preliminary abstract and comment using a 5 point scale.
5 = Count me in!
4 = I am very interested
3 = I would consider it
2 = probably not
1 = no interest

Also please feel free to ask questions and make suggestions in your comments.

NEW TECHNOLOGY (The tech. Bundle): YOUR FEEDBACK IS ESSENTIAL FOR FUTURE SUPPORT.

Thanks to last year's materials adoption committee, the school board, and the tax payers we received generous additions of technology to our classrooms. (Laptops, Projectors,Speakers, Carts, and presentation remotes.

The more these resources improve our instructional practice and classroom environment the more support we will receive in the future. The future is up to you!

Please post comments to this post
detailing specific ways you have used new technologies.

Also provide suggestions for the type of professional development that would help improve your use of instructional technology.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IDEAS FOR NEXT YEAR

This post is a forum for you to provide feedback and new ideas to be used as we plan district wide professional development for next year.

Feedback on the following will be particularly helpful
1.What went well and was useful this year in terms of the monthly "Instructional Facilitation" meetings and district wide PD days.
2. What improvements would you suggest in terms of content, process, or schedule.
3. NEW IDEAS

Please feel free to come back and leave comments anytime.

Manifest Destiny Discussion Through VoiceThead

MARCH IF PRESENTATION