PLACE OUT OF TIME Syllabus: 8th Grade Elective Course
Trimester 1: September 8 – December 4
Mrs. Robinson, Room: ______
Overview of POOT:
Place Out of Time is an online simulation of a diplomatic trial, which takes place (virtually) at the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain. Students play guests who come from a range of places and times throughout history to discuss some of the great issues of humankind. A core of banquet guests, portrayed by university student mentors and university professors, will also be in attendance. The Place Out of Time project is hosted, maintained, and operated by the Interactive Communications and Simulation (ICS) Group of the University of Michigan. While our interactions for the trial will take place through online correspondence on the POOT website, another key part of Place Out of Time is researching the trial and building our characters.
POOT Website:
Trial Topic: Our trial will focus on the recent ban of Michael Savage from entering Britain. The California based radio talk show host, who is know for his outspoken right wing views, was among 22 people Britain’s government described as hate promoters as well as agents of extremism and intolerance. Some of the issues at the forefront of our discussions in the classroom and with in the palace walls will include freedom of speech, nationalism, foreign relations, and national and global security, and personal responsibility.
Michigan Educational Standards and Benchmarks:
Technology:Content Standard 2: All students will use technologies to input, retrieve, organize, manipulate, evaluate, and communicate information
Content Standard 3: All students will apply appropriate technologies to critical thinking, creative expression, and decision-making skills.
Social Studies:
Content Standard 1: People, Places and Cultures
Benchmark 1: Locate and describe the diverse places, cultures, and communities of major world regions.
Benchmark 2: Describe and compare characteristics of major world cultures including language, religion, belief systems, gender roles and traditions.
Content Standard 5: Global Issues and Events
Benchmark 3: Explain how elements of the physical geography, culture, and history of the region may be influencing current events.
English Language Arts:
Content Standard 6:
Benchmark 2: Demonstrate their ability to use different voices in oral and written communication to persuade, inform, entertain, and inspire their audiences.
Benchmark 4: Document, enhance, and develop a voice through multiple forms of media.
Content Standard 7:
Benchmark 4: Demonstrate a variety of strategies for planning, drafting, revising, and editing several different forms of texts for specific purposes. An example includes persuading a particular audience to take action.
Mathematics:Content Standard 3:
Benchmark 3: Formulate and communicate arguments and conclusions based on data and evaluate their arguments and those of others.
Expectations:
Exploring Trial Themes: This will account for 20% of your assessment for this course.
For the first part of our trimester, we will be gathering background information on Michael Savage, the British ban, as well as researching events from the past that contain common themes to our trial topic. Events or movements that test the idea of freedom of speech with regards to hate speech will be our focus.
Character Exploration: This will account for 20% of your assessment for this course.
The next part of the trimester will be focused on character exploration and analysis. You will have the freedom to select a character from a suggested list. I am willing to consider others as long as they will have meaningful input to the trial topic and are not already being portrayed by any of the U of M mentors. Key parts of your character development will be your resume, artifacts, class role-playing and debates, and of course your portrayal online during the trial. It is essential that you understand where your character is coming from in order to represent them accurately and in a meaningful way, even if you do not agree with their actions or views.
Trial Posts, Arguments, and Etiquette: This will account for 20% of your assessment for this course.
Once the trial begins, you will be making posts and arguments as your character, not an 8th grade student from UPSM. This will require you to stretch beyond your personal beliefs and familiar surroundings to empathize with their experiences and perspectives. In order to communicate your points effectively, you will need to have well-developed and persuasive arguments. This will require you to research particular issues as well as other characters’ positions. You will be able to post comments and positions in public forums as well as private messages. Finally, you will need to strike a balance between being true to your character and maintaining a proper etiquette while on the POOT site. Remember that you are in an educational environment, even when online, and need to extend our professionalism and mutual respect to this arena. U of M and I reserve the right to remove you from the simulation if you cross the line. If you cannot participate in the trial, you cannot pass the course.
Reflective Journal: This will count as 20% of your assessment for this course.
Through out the trimester, you will be personally reflecting on the activities conducted in class and online, assessing what you found to be successful and unsuccessful, as well as monitoring your personal growth and learning.
Class Participation: This will account for 20% of your assessment for this course.
The very nature of this course requires active participation in addition to regular attendance. We will be engaging in role-playing activities, debates, and discussions that focus on issues that affect our lives on a daily basis.
Assessment: How is your progress evaluated?
Percentage Breakdown: Exploring Trial Themes: 20%
Character Exploration: 20%
Trial Posts: 20%
Reflective Journal: 20%
Class Participation: 20%
Narrative Levels:
59% or below - Insufficient progress (IP)
60-69% - Beginning-Work begins to meet requirements (B)
70-79% - Approaching-Work partially meets requirements (A)
80-89% - Meeting-Work meets requirements/achieved potential (M)
90-100% - Exceeding-Work meets requirements/students stretches beyond their usual capabilities (E)
Progress Reports:
Mid-way through each trimester, an evaluation of your progress is sent out. You will be provided with a percentage, based on the total number of points you have earned up to that point, as well as a concise explanation of your progress so far. You should use this written assessment to identify the concepts and skills you have mastered as well as areas that require improvement, so you can make adjustments and devote more time and energy to these areas for the rest of the trimester and year.
Progress Reports will be sent out on the following dates:
Trimester 1: October 19
Trimester 2: February 5
Trimester 3: May 7
Narratives:
Following the completion of all assignments, activities, and projects from a trimester as well as your Presentation of Learning, you will be given a trimester evaluation that is more detailed than the progress report. While your narrative also gives you a percentage based on the number of points you received from the total possible, you will also be given an in depth, written break down of your academic progress on major projects, demonstration of social skills and leadership, and execution of your Presentation of Learning. The conclusion of your narrative will include an overall analysis of your strengths, recommendations for improvement, and suggestions for reaching the next level of success.
Narratives will be sent out on the following dates:
Trimester 1: December 16
Trimester 2: March 24
Trimester 3: June 30
Supplies:
- Lined paper or notebook for notes + assignments (standard 8 ½ by 11’’)
- Pencils (sharpened before class starts)
- 1, 2 pocket Folder to take work home (homework, missing assignments, weekly updates, etc.)
- Highlighters
- Note cards
- USB, flash drive (to save and back up digital work)
*** While a home computer and Internet are not required, they are recommended if you wish to conduct research or make posts on the weeknights or weekends. Access to a public library would also facilitate out of classroom research and trial participation.
Trimester Overview: Subject to change based on U of M’s schedule
Important Dates: / Important Events/Focus: / Learning Activities:September 8-11 / Intro to POOT / Community building
Background info
Role Playing
September 14 + / Exploring Trial Themes / From Past + Present
Freedom of Speech
Hate Speech
Class Debates
September 24 / Character Selection Confirmed / Character selection, research, resume, presentation of artifact, role playing
Reflections
September 28 / POOT site opens
Character Resume Due / Site demonstration
Post resume
Character reflections + debates
October 12 / Trial begins / Connect with other characters via private messages
Post in public forums
Trial reflections + debates
November 25 – December 4 / Trial votes
POOT Banquet / Role playing
Final analysis of trial + outcome
Final Reflection