Day 37: Debate & intro to Global Solutions

Debate topics from last week.
Tear down tent city?  Ban the use of the N-word?

 NFL cracks down on the use of the N-word.  CLICK to read
 How children are viewing the election in the USA.  CLICK to read
 Are some sports logos racist?  Should they be changed?  CLICK to read

#Global Solutions (thelearningpartnership.ca)

Problem solving.  What is a "wicked problem?"
Trained problem solvers will agree on result and/or method.

Well-Structured Problems (The math problem). These problems are easy to control and solve once we are taught the method. Mathematical formulas, assuming we have applied them correctly, will always yield the correct solution. They are also easier to recognize and place in categories (this is a ‘math problem’ this is an ‘economics problem’.) Experts in this type of problem will agree on both the result of and the method.to be used in solving the problem.

Medium-Structured Problems. (The investment problem). Medium-structured problems are more complex, because there may be more than one correct solution. Professionals will agree on the structure of the problem and the end state, but there may be more than one way to arrive at that desired result.

Ill-Structured Problems. (The poverty problem). Ill-structured problems are the most challenging because they are technically complicated and involve competing human values and feelings on the other. Unlike well- or medium-structured problems, professionals will disagree about how to solve this type of problem, what should be the end state, and whether the desired end state is even possible. In 1972, a professor of Design at UC Berkeley, Horst Rittel,3 described the characteristics of socially complex problems, which he called “wicked problems”—not wicked in the sense of evil, but rather extremely difficult.

CLICK to watch on how a wicked problem was addressed.
TED Talk on the Lucky Iron Fish.  CLICK to watch
This is no longer a wicked problem.

Day 36: Racism

Use iPads today.

Continuation of our discussion from last day where we saw the video of the racist rant in Abbotsford.
Watch the interview with the man who shot the video.  Your thoughts? CLICK to watch

Watch a recent video (October 2016) from the New York Times on racism against Asian-Americans. #thisis2016
 CLICK to watch

Racism infographic (mapsoftheworld.com) CLICK to view
View map showing the worlds "most racist countries" (map from Washington Post) CLICK to view
Listovative lists the 12 most racist countries (two years ago).  CLICK to view
Interesting brief history or racism in 30 powerful pictures.  CLICK to view

Find an interesting YouTube video that talks about/gives examples of racism around the world (please email to me so we can share with the class).

Day 35: assignment

Time to finish your in-class assignment.

Please finish writing your draft copy then begin typing on laptops.
Type your good copy on a Google Doc and share with me please.

If completed early, you have time to work on your map.

Day 34: power of language

Current events: Click to read on the tearing down of tent city

Points for/against tearing down tent city.

A look at some "old school rap"

Looking at the power of language.  Are there words in society that should be banned?

After watching 12 Years a Slave we heard extreme derogatory language towards others during times of slavery.  Language and powerful words that had negative connotations are still part of mainstream society.  Should words be banned?

Research and debate. 

Click for points from iDebate
Click to view article from the Washington Post in 2001

Day 32: Current events and project time

Current events: Click to watch an example of a racist incident in Edmonton this summer

Current events:  Click to watch an example of racist incident in Abbotsford.

Diary or Dramatic monologue.

Class time today, Thursday.  Assignment due next Wednesday, November 2.

Day 31: Guest speaker

Thanks to our guest speaker from RMCS (R. Multicultural Community Services)

• Settlement services for new immigrants to the country.
• Helping new people with things such as SETTLEMENT aspects:transit/getting around, welcoming groups, 
• Harmony and community
• Finding work
• Fun activities such as trips to the pumpkin patch ("normal" activities that people here would do)
• DIVERSITY
• Activity #1: No talking.  Try to figure out what your partner had for breakfast
• Activity #2: Two go outside the room.  "Insider/outsider" - Come back in and try to figure out which of the two groups to be a part of (ex. laces, no laces).  Why is this the name of the activity?  Insiders - how did you feel when the two people came in?  Outsiders, how did you feel?
• Activity #3: What does diversity feel/look like?  Post it on the iceberg: visible/invisible/borderline.  Leads to the activity on the Diversity Wheel - and label your top 3.  Looking at power/privilege
• Activity #4: Dots.  No looking (dots on you) No talking.  How did you group yourself?  Did you group by colour?  Location of sticker?  Size of sticker?  

Debrief of 12 Years a Slave in groups.

New assignment handed out.

Day 30: defining terms and the US election

Define terms on the sheet.

Find examples that have been said by candidate(s) or citizens in the 2016 US presidential election.

Listen to Michelle Obama's recent speech in New Hampshire.

Work on pink sheet from yesterday for the movie.

Day 29: Movie analyis

Continue watching the movie.

In class assignment will take place next Tuesday.

Day 28: Movie analysis for racism

Today and tomorrow will be spent watching the movie.

Please take notes and write down ideas (point form ok) to be used for your in-class assignment on Tuesday next week.

Day 27: A look at racism

A review of Residential Schools and their impact on First Nations families.

A look at the Transatlantic Slave Trade from the 16th - 19th Century and its impact.

Link to UNESCO's webpage on the Transatlantic Slave Trade

A look at racism today in the United States and possible connections to racism in society.

A question from last day - how long does it take one to overcome a traumatic experience(s)/racism/discrimination from society/members of society?  How long does the impact last?

Day 26: Guest speaker - augmentative & alternative communication

Continuing on with your mapping.

Guest speaker: discussing augmentative and alternative communication (International AAC month)

How do people communicate?  Not just talking.  So how else do people communicate?  Several students at the school who cannot communicate by speaking.  Making sounds.  Nodding your head.

People who can't speak may have cerebral palsy, autism, cognitive disability, traumatic brain injury, aphasia after a stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, or others.

Communication access symbol.  Typing on a board.  Pointing to a symbol.  Electronic device.
Everyone has different needs for accessing communication. 

How do communicate better to a person regarding access:
Speak to the person.  Make eye contact.
Speak in a normal tone of voice.
Don't speak in a childish manner.
Ask the person "is there anything you want me to do when communicating with you?"
Be patient and give time.
Make an effort to understand

Group presentation plans due on Monday.

Day 25: Millennium development goals

Looking at the 8 UN Millennium Development Goals CLICK to view webpage

How long does it take to "get past"/"get over" an injustice?

Connection to Residential schools/poverty/homelessness.

Day 24: Quest to End Poverty

Reviewing TED talks on The Quest to End Poverty:Click to access the various talks
Student overviews of the talks.

Major final project presentation plans are due on Monday.
You should have had verbal contact/confirmation with your non-profit organization.
If you don't hear back by today, then consider your second option.

Day 23: Current events - feminism

Journal #3 - What are you thankful for?

Today is International Day of the Girl Child: CLICK to view an article
Check out the link to the United Nations: CLICK

Define feminist/feminism

PM Justin Trudeau and feminism: CLICK to watch
Current events:  Trump's comments denounced.  CLICK to watch
Arianne Zucker's statement.  CLICK to view

Locker room talk?  Not so, according to athletes.  CLICK to read

TED talks group presentations on global poverty.

Presentation plan rough drafts should be developed for tomorrow.  Contact the organization that you want to volunteer for.

Day 22: Poverty, world stats & mapping

World poverty ppt.

Mapping assignment.  Analyzing statistics and mapping developing/developed countries.
Title, name, legend.

We will continue working on the map next day.

Focus on your presentation plan outlines.

Day 21: World poverty

Haiti, which is one of the poorest nations in the world, is hit again by a natural disaster.  The latest is from Hurricane Matthew.

2010 earthquake that rocked Haiti CLICK TO WATCH

Hurricane Matthew slams into Haiti and other Caribbean nations in 2016: CLICK TO WATCH

Media: Global Poverty.  Find effective print advertisements.  Effective commercials.  What makes these effective?  Target audience?  What is it promoting?
Some great examples that students found:
Click to watch
Click to watch
Click to watch
Click to watch

Working on presentation plans.
You should be contacting people (email/phone) to find out about volunteering opportunities.
We will meet next Wednesday and you should have more concrete details about who you are working with, and what you will be doing.

Day 20: Guest speaker

Thank you so much, Ms. E for speaking to the class today.

A great presentation and discussion on poverty in Canada and at the local level.  Topics include:

• minimum wage
• mental illness
• % of First Nations who live in poverty across Canada (highest in the Prairie provinces)
• Why are women more likely to live in poverty instead of men?
• Ethnic groups likelier to live in poverty
• Elderly likelier to live in poverty
• What is basic living wage?  Definition of "Working Poverty".  On the rise since the recession in 2008.  How do we address this - what types of reforms/supports?  Do we raise the minimum wage?
• How do people end up in poverty?  Contributing factors include: inter-generational poverty, mental health issues, addiction, societal structures/economy, First Nations legacy of residential schools trauma
• Mental health.  The "chicken or egg" analogy.  Are people living in poverty because they are mentally ill?  Or become mentally ill once they are living on the street?
• Group article analysis: #1-Child poverty in our city.  A lot of hidden poverty.  Shame.  People feel marginalized.  #2-Cost of a nutritious food basket in our municipality.  Getting expensive to feed families.  Difficult for new comers to Canada.  #3-Difficulties that newcomers face.  Maybe don't have supports/families/work.  Maybe  lead to loneliness/depression.  Stigmatized.  #4-Impact on poverty on Children: health, social networks, behaviour, education, play.  #5-Rent is too high in our city.  Lack of drop-in shelters (none for women at all).  Lack of provincial gov't support

Day 19: Research

Research non-profit organizations for your major final project.

Plans will be developed and are due next Friday.

Day 18: Global citizenship

What does it mean to be a global citizen?

Do the work sheet that accompanies the TED talk by Hugh Evans CLICK TO WATCH

Major project handout.

•  research a non-profit/area of interest that you would like to get involved with
• groups of 2-4 people 
• we will look at your ideas on Thursday.

Project proposals due on Friday, October 14th.