#sschat Archive
#sschat is a network of educators, resources, and ideas that started on Twitter, but has expanded to Facebook, an annual NCSS unconference, and more. Join us to chat asynchronously on Twitter or Facebook, or chat with us live on Mondays from 7-8pm EST.
Monday March 21, 2016
We're the education department of the ! Teaching history, civics and media literacy!
Good Evening! Welcome to ! Teachers and organizations - please introduce yourselves!
Hi , this is Bill Chapman, a retired secondary social studies teacher, checking in from Berkeley, CA.
Hi , this is Kyle Moix, an aspiring social studies teacher from Rogers, AR.
Chris from Bloomington, IN. Teach world history for online HS affiliated w/ IU (Sweet 16, baby!). One of the co-leaders.
Good evening ! Dane from NJ. Preservice/Substitute Teacher!
Hey , its been awhile, and I will mostly be lurking tonight. Daniel in Southwest Michigan/North Central Indiana and teach Gov/Econ
Chuck from Milrockee - in and out over the next few hours ... but oh how I miss
Brian Wassmer from Southern Indiana...long time troller
Hi ! Emily from NY. Teach US history, government and economics.
Hey hey everyone! Tim from PA - HS history teacher integrating comics whenever possible. Chilling on break https://t.co/wBC8zgGK8B
Let's get the questions going! Q1. What hot-button current events and touchy subjects do your students ask about?
Matt Doran, SS coordinator, Columbus, OH
A1 racial tensions and equality of LGTB
Hey Doug from NY. Teach 7th and 8th grade US history
Hi Thanks for distracting me from reviewing proposals for 2016 conf. Scott Petri, HS WH T frm LA
An issue I have seen discussed is the Apple iPhone/privacy topic. Not sure how controversial though.
. Thanks for joining us even during spring break!
Andrew from Mass., 8th grade Soc.St. (US 1750s-1860s)
My ss ask about police brutality and interesting what if questions
A1: Biggest touchy subject right now would definitely have to be the Presidential campaign, specifically Donald Trump
A1: Trump, the election, Trump
Checking in from MA while cooking dinner tonight.
A1: My 6th grade students have been very interested in the election this year
Evening all. Patty from Alma, AR and enjoying spring break. Haven't been free on a Monday in a long time.
A1: Guns, Racial Tensions, Politics and Religion all come to mind.
Q1 definitely the prez debates and some try to make ties between Trump and Hitler language...usually from just an attention aspect
A1 Hot topics: Gay rights, abortion, immigration, our school's dress code. My Ss like to argue about everything
A1 The Election. Everything from the candidates to how we elect
A1: The presidential election, immigration reform, 2nd amendment
Hey all! 1st time from philly. on spring break, comic chat, rocky 4 pn in background, and basketball-mania! what could be better!
My ss want to educate Trump on the U.S. Constitution.
Ken from Western Oregon University College of Education & Center for Geo ED in Oregon
Dave from snowy - no, wait- sunny CT
Almost missed , I'm not usually on central time. World History teacher from NY checking in from St. Louis.
Q2. What are your favorite resources for teaching about these subjects?
Phil from Sarasota. I teach 6-8 Civics. Late entry into the discussion tonight & can only stay for a little bit
. Welcome! So glad you've joined!
A1: while i teach ancient civ, MS students have been asking about Trump and Apple Court Case.
I love using Newsela. Its a great current events tool.
A2. For current events integration, I like Newsela, Choices-Teaching with the News.
Apple Rights (not court case)
A2 Inquiry great for controversial issues. Compelling & supporting Qs. Using primary sources (e.g. photos, articles) for mult persp
A1 We'll talk about politics and the election. My students love Donald Trump. Some of them really love Bernie Sanders.
I also use memes whenever it is relevant.
A2 I haven't used, but really want to and some colleagues speak highly of Listen Current (uses NPR stories)
A2: Newsela is great, but CNN student news is also a great resource that can lead to conversation
A2 political cartoons as a do now for analysis - then see where it goes...
A2 Videos from or have been really useful, along with articles from & other news sites
A2: We use podcasts, newspaper articles, and the news. We identify bias and figure out what the sources are and whether to believe
has begun! Join the discussion until 8pm EST! https://t.co/2RA5RBVztP
Q2. What are your favorite resources for teaching about these subjects?
. Check out our primary sources - we just added 175+ this month! https://t.co/fR7ApI4gPr Most are downloadable, too.
A2: Anyone have any good resources for covering election issues for middle school students?
Q2 been looking at too....Government class took a little bit of time to buy into readings though
A2 we often use Twitter as a means of tracking a topic/hashtag. Ferguson lead to some interesting conversations
Did a create-a-dynasty activity recently. Students wanted their ruler to be a "scary tyrant" - the results https://t.co/uqzuVaRNC7
. has lots of good videos
Isabelle from Morgan Hill, CA. 11th grade US and 12th gr. US govt. jumping in late. Sorry!
Thanks I'm going to start following Cheers!
A2: Try our Media Ethics unit on identifying bias in the news: https://t.co/RPrr6etGQs https://t.co/sh3DHoIEQO
A2: We use podcasts, newspaper articles, and the news. We identify bias and figure out what the sources are and whether to believe
A1: Not currently teaching, but former students (2yrs ago) were most concerned with politics, gender, LGBT, and pro-life (Cath sch.)
The hardest part is me keeping my big mouth shut. It's like I have a pathological fear of silence
A2: Youtube. You have to know what 2 look for but bias on same news story on different media outlets is always on there.
Q3. How many of you use case studies to talk about these topics?
After a debate, Ss always want to hear my answer as if my opinion is the most important.
A3) Love using simulations in world history, but haven't taught government/US enough to develop sims/case studies for contro issues.
. How do you respond to that?
How about for controversial topics in WH?
Can you show us some examples? Is a case study just furnishing docs covering multiple perspectives?
A3. Case studies make topics real and tangible...good for inquiry-based...seeing multiple perspectives, and developing empathy
We do a lot w/ sources from multiple perspectives as well as discussion.
Try hard to not give an answer. Just because I am the T doesn't mean I'm right.
. We have 22 cases for you to try! 11 historical and 11 contemporary, all with primary sources https://t.co/1WPai9FxcV
A3 They react generally with compassion and confusion. It´s mportant to link lessons to daily lives
A3 Case studies allow for in depth analysis of topic. Focusing on one case helps Ss gain tools to apply to other cases
. thanks! That looks awesome and helpful!
A3 case study great for inquiry. Such as,Ferguson, Baltimore riots when looking at redlining correlation w/ race riots& perspectives
Similar. Each citizen needs to dev own informed position on topics. Discussion part of that.
. You're welcome! We're always looking for feedback - pls share what you/your students think!
. First Ss explore the debate, then they have to pick a position and use evidence from primary sources for or against
A3 case studies can take a big idea, make it tangible for Ss - like Scopes Trial for conflict of 20s, or Ali or Calley for antiwar
While not using case studies per se, we have used mock trials and cases to help teach constitutional rights
A3: Focusing on one case gives Ss a concrete example from which to start the discussion on a larger issue.
Q3 not so much case study but simulation of from win the White House shows the process well
Q4. Why do/don’t you use this approach? What’s the value?
A3: Case studies can show connection b/w historical & modern events (primary sources can also support & )
that's a great approach, Scott! We guide and coach, not tell and preach
A4 Case-study, inquiry develops critical thinking skills. Controversial issues compelling & often relatable for Ss
I don't really have any experience with this topic, hence my silence. More learning than speaking tonight from me.
. We also give them positions to choose from + graphic organizers for analyzing evidence and preparing an argument.
A4) Love having Ss take position & support w/ evidence in diff forms - debate, simulations, written (RAFT, essay, etc.).
A4 using cases studies plays on Ss interest .. challenge is finding the interesting case study!
Yes and the smaller the issue-- the more personal-- the better. Must be inductive
A4 Case study approach is time consuming for schools that still sprint along the standards-coverage treadmill.
A4: honestly, haven't really known about it before. Now that I know, we will be looking to use case studies in class
. We agree! Great for giving students context so they can better understand/join modern debates.
A3: Case studies are essential to my classes. They make the topic more tangible for students.
That is the $64,000 question, isn't it? Easier to find sources to use now than when I started out, though.
How many do you have on World History issues?
. Are simulations sometime more effective than a case study?
A4 W/out case studies, is "gossip abt dead people" (quote from middle school teacher @ ). Need to make connections!
What part is challenging? Just finding an interesting topic, or one that meets other needs like reading level?
I see a case study as a simulation - especially if you make it a mock trial, CSI, discovery of docs
A4 Battle with Ss who aren't used to being taught this way. Takes time to get Ss inquiry ready
the interest and relativity - reading level is easier to adapt
Late joining . What exactly is a case study (for a non-history teacher)?
Q4 hate to say but time crunch with curricular maps plus still building my own content knowledge ...buy-in with presenting it too
IME, the trad high-achievers balk but often Ss who haven't performed well in past often shine in sims, case studies.
but it's the double edged sword - so many sources - I'd rather have it that way, though
. Or court case, with Ss for judge and jury or SCOTUS justices + attorneys!
A4: Case studies allow Ss to ask Qs and find As that apply to other similar events. Also great for viewing mult. perspectives.
So true. Almost paralysis by analysis to try to find "the best" ones. Just have to make best choices & see how it goes.
. The challenge is finding ones with multiple compelling and competing arguments.
that's where you go to the experts, like and folks - they have great stuff ready to go
Q5. What scaffolding techniques do you use to support productive debate in class? Share your tips for do’s and don’ts.
ID a controversial situation, explore the debate, then have Ss pick a position & support that with pri sources.
so true. how do you approach this over the course of the school year? especially if you introduce something new midyear
find this true w/ many outside the box teaching methods. Yelled at today for challenging Ss with a tough
A4 You must allow your goals/questions to be organic when you work with case studies-- never know what Ss will generate.
A4) Start small - just two or three sources & build from there.
Agree! Helps Ss make a connection to the broader topic
A5 create a shared Google doc for all to post sources -no weird surprises in midst of debate. Have to be credible sources & defended
Can be extra hard if admin, Ps, & Ss all balk. If you can justify, though, should be given chance to try.
A5 tell Ss - volume doesn't equal veracity, no assertions w/o evidence, vote with head, not heart
A5: don't let it be a free for all scream fest. Set parameters and look for ways for all voices to be heard Text in polls help
A5: generating, revising, modeling compelling and supporting questions is a great scaffolding technique
A5: Essential questions, multiple sources/perspectives, allow students to change their position, 4 corners
District-level buy-in on value of is so important. doing some great stuff on this. https://t.co/9ekMd5GLfS
Q4 hate to say but time crunch with curricular maps plus still building my own content knowledge ...buy-in with presenting it too
Love that! Can't have a preconceived notion of "one right answer or product"
A5 model how to present, defend an argument & prepare for counter argument
A1: Students have an endless amount of questions & comments about Presidential race and Trump
Caution that Ss & tchrs learn to value quality rather than quantity of primary sources for case studies.
A5 my class is set up in tables of four - EVERY class period has pair shares so debate is second nature
You can also use inside/outside circle or Socratic seminar if formal debate is not workable.
justification is hard, but As on board so that helps. As early adopter, I get brunt of anger and concern
A5: Plenty of time to collect evidence, provide graphic organizers, assign sides, discuss in small groups first
Yes Never! And that is what makes it the most difficult kind of teaching but, not surprisingly, the most valuable kind
Absolutely. We talk a lot about how facts are important but history is interpretation, not fact hoarding.
modeling is so important in education at all levels
for justification focus on skills. Aren't Ss supposed to be critical thinkers who can write arguments?
. A case study is a specific scenario that epitomizes a larger question. (pt 1)
. We assign Ss a position that is the opposite of their personal beliefs It helps them understand multiple perspectives.
A1: Ss very intrigued by Supreme Court vacancy and nomination process
A5 Debate starters. If you don't agree use this.., to build off another argument use this ...
. Ex: Use FBI v. Apple to understand the struggle to balance privacy and nat'l security in the digital age Make sense?
Depending on situation/topic & community, this can be challenging. Ran into this w/ MidEast peace sim 1 year.
A2: Several Vox articles and clips from debates
. How do you define quality?
Ballet time for daughter. Have to run. Thanks !!
Perfect example, especially as the Apple case tweets compete with tonight!
A5 During debate require S to repeat the position of the S with whom they disagree. It is magical-- leads to productive learning
. yeah it helps to have an amazing to share, collaborate, and learn from!
. Repeat before they respond, or after?
A5: break room into agree and disagree sides and ask Ss to vote with their feet. Select a few to share thoughts and ideas
This site is NY based but has C3 inquiry based lessons. Not sure if specific case studies but . . . https://t.co/ns7BTPGIej
Interesting point, Chris.
Primary sources to balance each other, represent multiple perspectives, provide evidence of time period. # not important.
Q6. Assessment: How do define and measure success in these debates?
A5. Scored Discussion uses a rubric to evaluate Ss participation. Can also set up a rubric in Class Dojo to track discussion.
A6) Rubric. Had Ss help develop standards of what quality debates, group work, etc. were so they had buy in.
articulate position of opponents BEFORE they share their own-- it inspires understanding
A6 By the quality of responses (grounded in quoting from resources)?
They are a bit different that case studies. But parts of each lesson could be defined that way
. What do you include in your rubrics?
A6: look more to analysis of info, structure of arguments, and responses. Should measure more on skills and communicative literacy
i love this https://t.co/sZSOnegfe4
articulate position of opponents BEFORE they share their own-- it inspires understanding
.
We use Pinterest for preparing selected evidence ahead of time, esp. with current events. https://t.co/aL7eqYKa2j
A6. Success criteria: strong thesis, supporting evidence and examples, sound reasoning, counterargument, civil discourse
A6) Part of it depends on where Ss are, too. Assmt would likely change over course of year.
A6 anyone have some greet debate/discussion rubrics floating around out there? would love to see them ...
A6: Ss comments during the discussion and their reflections after. Supporting their stance w/evidence, understanding other views.
. Reflections on the process, their argument, other?
Yes, please share! https://t.co/XJd8Uvos9z
A6 anyone have some greet debate/discussion rubrics floating around out there? would love to see them ...
. How do you define communicative literacy?
A6 I measure learning by how well students meet these targets, every day, all day, all year https://t.co/RIKjrqJSZW
Maybe a rubric could be built on skills that make a successful investigative reporter. https://t.co/A1ZMKUamgc
"Kids should read like a detective and write like an investigative reporter." Deb Johnson
On what they learned from others, how they contributed, how it impacted their understanding, goals for next time
Q7. As we wrap up, what questions do you have for NewseumED?
I shared this on at least once before. It's designed to reward personal growth, not performance: https://t.co/EuO4e7O4xR
A7 I'm interested in strategies for balancing all voices rather than bowing to extrovert voices.
Find it helps with content understanding & developing argumentative skills and listening skills
do you have any resources that can be modified for ancient civ? i know it isn’t necessarily a place for news and media...
. skills in effectively communicating thoughts, ideas, and listening. Skills that are essential for college and career
A6: I grade a written summary of debate prep, as well as the depth of analysis evident in the debate discussion and responses.
Having Ss respond to a prompt & each other in real time in Google Classrm is a fascinating format. assess.
Cool. Kind of a "silent" discussion. My online asynch Ss have convos via Google Doc comments.
Make connections b/t ancient civ & modern events in the same counties with https://t.co/qf0duMjg8E https://t.co/AmQwwFdWct
do you have any resources that can be modified for ancient civ? i know it isn’t necessarily a place for news and media...
Thanks and for an amazing hour of collaboration and learning! Have a wonderful rest of the week!
Stolen from Dave Stuart Jr. who has some great stuff on his blog.
