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Topic: "A Problem-Solving Middle School"

Objective:

Students will incorporate problem-solving strategies in their original designs for a new innovative middle school for students who will attend classes there.

Accomplished Practice #9:  Learning Environments

What kind off learning environment enhances learning? Visit Houghton-Mifflin's Teacher Education Station to find out.

Survey:  This survey is a self-inventory for teachers in the classroom.  If you are a pre-service                 teacher, please complete the survey as a preview of good classroom practice.               Survey for Accomlished Practice #9

Video: Madison Middle School  (The School Story Video)            Go to the WebBoard and complete the weekly media reaction writing

Internet Links: Teacher Education Station

Lesson: Use Teaching Help to Orient yourselves to existing schools before you begin to design a new school for a new century.  Read this advice to new teachers who would come through the school house door today:

DIRECTIONS:  While immersed in the orientation above, it becomes obvious that the New Century School House project is dramatically different:

ASSIGNMENT: You are to design one room for the New Century School House. Assume that New Century School House is a problem-solving middle school that will be built at the beginning of the next century.

(1) Begin by reading the Goal and Guidelines that are copied below. (Follow them as much as possible).  (2) Next choose one room under construction to design. (NOTE: each room title represents a different innovative purpose)  (3) Describe how your room represents a learning environment that enhances learning.  (4) Finally, write a justification for including your room in a problem-solving middle school.

CHOOSE ONE ROOM FROM THE FOLLOWING: Rm #1:Community as Classroom;  Rm #2: Citizens of the World;  Rm #3 Idea Driven Schoolroom;  Rm #4: Constructiveatorium;  Rm #5: Busines /Ed Technology;  Rm #6: Mind/Heart;  Rm #7: Environmental Technology;  Rm #8: Fun and Playing;  Rm #9: Pupils as Teachers;  Rm #10: Theater Arts and Life; and  Rm #11: Parent Resource Room.

GOAL:   The goal of this project is to establish a resource for school  planners and education reforms. Consider the names of the Century School House. We are looking for innovative, even outlandish, ideas of what schools should be like and what students and staff should be doing in them to better prepare  students for their (and our) futures.

Here are some Guidelines: Rooms should describe what students and staff will do there.  Rooms should state an instructional goal.  Rooms should be practical.  Rooms can include emerging technologies.  Rooms should be finished.

E-mail your work to:  jhoneych@fgcu.edu

EVALUATION:  Save your file.  You might choose to include work from this lesson in your portfolio.

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SCFTIO Homepage This page was last modified January 28, 1998 jhoneych@fgcu.edu