9.+The+Task

=**A. The Learning Project**=

=**The focus of the learning is framed in terms of**=

1. a problem to be solved

2. a question to be answered

3. a significant task to be completed

4. an issue to be explored



=**Good Research Questions**=


 * A good research question must be**:
 * interesting - to students and possibly also "objectively"
 * open - requiring that the researcher takes a position and not only reports the facts
 * rich - requiring deep and lengthy research
 * connected - to the main fertile question and to the domain of the knowledge
 * practical - can be turned into a focused research question having available relevant material.



=**The learning outcomes are framed in terms of developing**=


 * a knowledgeable person with deep understanding
 * a complex thinker
 * a creative person
 * an active investigator
 * an effective communicator
 * a participant in an interdependent world
 * a reflective and self directed learner

Fertile Questions in developing our Community of Thinkers (COT)

Human beings - a product of the environment or genetics When was life better - in the middle ages or now? Is the planet on the verge of death? Who are the poor? Is it possible to save the planet? Global warming - a myth created by greenies? Poverty - a curse or a blessing? Is there progress in fighting climate change - The Inconvenient Truth? How should the world be managed in the next fifty years? Why do people play video games dealing with conflict? Could conflict be restricted to video games? Why is there deforestation?

After a fertile question is chosen, students divide into small research teams that choose research questions - sub questions of the fertile question. The research teams exam sub-questions, which are aspects of the fertile question, together composing of comprehensive research.

=‘**Using technologies to plan for success’**= =**Planning for Year 10 E.A.R.T.H. Week - DO YOU HAVE THESE SKILLS????**=

=**ICT Skills**= • Basic logging on – ensure their password is up to date and the CENet password • Use the Internet – effectively use a search engine, refine the search terms • Able to use powerpoint or keynote, basic word processing, Inspiration or Freemind, Excel – manipulate data to make a graph, storyboard • Retrieve and submit work to CENet • Save and retrieve their data – email to themselves. Save effectively – organisation of folders. • Having reliable equipment – USB/ printers • Attach a document to email • Accessing pdf from the Internet • Voice recording on Garage Band • Use wikis and blogs – develop digital portfolio • Copyright issues understood – plagiarism. Acknowledging sources – Harvard system and End note programme. Students need to be informed about ‘Creative Commons’ to assist in avoiding plagiarism. • Collaborative use of technology • Header and footer

=**KLA Skills**= • Be an independent learner – do prior readings, be up to date with their work, get down to the task quickly without time wastage, staying on track, develop an action plan • Understand, plan and organise for a task – what do I need to know, can I do those things • Be aware of prior learning - KWHL • Take responsibility for their own tasks • Take note and summarise from spoken work – organise, scaffold, mind map • Research skills - synthesis • Glossary of terms • Collaborative skills • Strategy of the month • Text types • Wide response writing - Write sustained pieces of work • Access their relevant syllabus and other tools from Board of Studies • Communicate ideas in written, oral and visual texts • Evaluate their own work and others • Reflect on their own work and others • Figure out the expectations of each of their teachers and how they teach • Take pride in their own work – submit the best they can do