Global Awareness

Quest Atlantis Unit Plan

Global Awareness

All people on earth are inextricably connected to one another in a great community. Quest Atlantis strives to create feelings of connectedness, supporting members in building relationships to one another and to a collective that is larger than any one individual. By fostering a feeling of connectedness, we hope that we can make the world a little bit smaller and bring people together in beautiful ways. We also hope that Questers will gain an appreciation for how they might make a difference in their local communities.

Global Awareness

GLOBAL AWARENESS UNIT ASSESSMENT

Pre-Post Items

Short Answer:

Draw a world map. Label the continents and at least two countries. Indicate with a small dot the capital cities of these two countries and write the names of these cities.
Draw the national flags of two countries. In one paragraph, explain the symbolism of any colors, designs and words on the flag.
Write one paragraph about a hero from a country other than your own. Describe her or his contribution to society and to the world. Write a second paragraph about another hero from a different country.
Write two paragraphs about an international issue. Describe how it relates to more than one country and explain why it is important and controversial.

Performance-Based Task:

Complete the Scenario Below (pre-post) and the accompanying Questions
Apply the QuestResponseRubric for examining quality of solution (problem solving)
Apply the Quest ResponseRubric for examining quality of critical reflection

Scenario A: Pre or Post

Last year a civil war broke out in a West African nation. A disgruntled warlord from a particular tribe had been in exile with his forces. Eventually, the warlord invaded the country with his forces, overwhelming the regular forces of the president. Several villages immediately fled the fighting and set up refugee camps in a neighboring country. Peace has now been restored, and the refugees want to return to their villages. However, they have found that people have torn down their homes and replaced them with their own new dwellings. These new people claim that they were chased them from their lands years ago and they were only reclaiming what was rightfully theirs.

Explain the two sides of this situation and why this may be a difficult problem to solve.
Does this situation bare any resemblance to any real-life situation in the world today? Explain why or why not.
See if you can come up with a reasonable solution or process for finding a solution for the people from this country.

Scenario B: Pre or Post

A particular country in South America is working to become more developed. One of the most important resources this country has is tropical hardwood from it vast tropical rain forest. Logging helps the country earn enough money to pay for important development projects such as schools, hospitals, roads, and industry for jobs and economic development. However, people from other more developed countries are complaining that the world needs the rain forest for biodiversity, for oxygen, and for maintaining resources unique to the tropical rainforest. Many people have also pointed out that stone-age tribes living in the rain forest are losing their habitat and whole cultures and peoples are being wiped out along with the forest and the creatures that live in it and depend on it.

Explain the two sides of this situation and why this is a difficult problem to solve.
Does this situation bare any resemblance to any real-life situation in the world today? Explain why or why not.
See if you can come up with a reasonable solution or process for finding a solution for the people from this country.

NATURE OF ARGUMENT RUBRIC

(for examining student responses to Scenarios A & B)

PERSPECTIVE

1 = Rigid Perspective: strongly opinionated view that does not consider other side

2 = Lenient Perspective: expressed opinion that acknowledges another view

3 = Open-Minded Perspective: opinion that is open-minded and acknowledging of other view

JUSTIFICATION

1 = Inaccurate Justification: response is based on inaccurate claims

2 = Fragile Justification: response is based on tenuous claims

3 = Credible Justification: response is based on well-supported claims

STANCE

1 = Selfish Stance: position is egocentric and self focused

2 = Empathetic Stance: position is empathetic yet remains focused on self

3 = Altruistic Stance: position is based on compassion and in the service of others

- Appendix A –

QA Rubric

Reviewer:______Date:______

Quester:______Quest:______

Purpose: This rubric is to assess both the quest response and reflection according to the rubric below.

Instructions: Respond to each of the following statements with regard to the extent to which the description is present in the work. Then, tally your responses according to the chart at the page bottom. Note that while a Quester is completing her first few Quests, consider using this rubric leniently to foster motivation and buy-in.

1.Response / 5 pts. / 4 pts. / 3 pts. / 2 pts. / 1 pt.
Strongly Agree / Agree / Somewhat / Disagree / Strongly Disagree
a.The response is Accurate.
(It addresses the targeted goals of the quest.) / / / / /
Strongly Agree / Agree / Somewhat / Disagree / Strongly Disagree
b.The response is Credible.
(It uses sound disciplinary content.) / / / / /
Strongly Agree / Agree / Somewhat / Disagree / Strongly Disagree
c.The response is Meaningful.
(It has value for the individual or world.) / / / / /
Strongly Agree / Agree / Somewhat / Disagree / Strongly Disagree
d.The response is Original.
(It is unique, imaginative, and risky, and it shows integrity.) / / / / /
Strongly Agree / Agree / Somewhat / Disagree / Strongly Disagree
e.The response is Complete.
(It addresses all of the stated goals.) / / / / /

If the tally for the response totals less than 19, indicate that the section should be revised; if the tally is 19 or above, then indicate that the work has been accepted.

2.Reflection / 5 pts. / 4 pts. / 3 pts. / 2 pts. / 1 pt.
Strongly Agree / Agree / Somewhat / Disagree / Strongly Disagree
a.The reflection is Complete.
(It addresses the three components.[1]) / / / / /
Strongly Agree / Agree / Somewhat / Disagree / Strongly Disagree
b.The reflection is Critical.
(It addresses specific strengths or weaknesses of the response or the process.) / / / / /
Strongly Agree / Agree / Somewhat / Disagree / Strongly Disagree
c.The reflection is Comprehensive.
(It accounts for all parts of the response rather than isolated elements.) / / / / /

If the tally for the reflection totals less than 10, indicate that the section should be revised; if the tally is 10 or above, then indicate that the work has been accepted.