Improve education

OVERVIEW & RESEARCH

Few can argue that public school education is perfect. Although how to improve it may be a matter of opinion, you now have complete control, so it's your opinion that matters most. Consider how you can make our school and/or our school district better. Since this is a year-long project, we're talking about major reform.

Although implementing a dress code may be part of your plan, it can't be the only plan. Think major overall. Consider what you believe to be a great school or district, and what would it take to transform ours into it (this will be part of your research).

When researching your project, consider the following questions, which should help you plan the year-long development of your school or district:

  • What does a good school or school system look like?
  • What major factors are involved in creating that school's environment?
  • To create your own, what support do you need and who will provide it?
  • Who are the people that play the most important roles in helping you create your vision?
  • What kind of budget do you require, and where will the money come from?
  • What role does the community play? How do you get stakeholders involved in your reform movement?
  • If you are implementing something for our district, how will you make the dream a reality?
  • What other issues/questions can you come up with along the way?

PLANNING

Consider that you have roughly 24 weeks to complete your project. We will have three checkpoints (grading periods). You should work backwards from the end of the school year, when your organization is complete to the end of each quarter. What will be completed by the end of each 9-week grading period, heading into June?

Break down each quarter into smaller checkpoints.

  • For example, your research and written proposal should be finished by November 30.
  • Would talking to any school leaders help? When will those meetings take place? Hint: you need to plan far in advance to meet with school administrators.
  • If you need support from community or school members, plan on getting it and set a goal for when you'll have it in place.
  • When will your financial plan be complete?
  • Other checkpoints?

MATERIALS & PROCEDURES

To complete your project, you will need to use a variety of tools and skills. Please use as many of the following as possible to demonstrate mastery of the applications and expertise in these areas of language arts:

  • Numerous sources for research -- books, web sites, encyclopedias; Noodle Tools will be used to complete the research
  • Your Barnesclass.com web site, including the message board and a special web page that leads me to all parts of your project
  • A Diigo group, containing at least 10 web sites that demonstrate ongoing research and production
  • A variety of web tools that contribute in some way to your project and demonstrate expertise in the use of these applications -- see the web tools page for help
  • Writing throughout the project that supports it:
    • advertising
    • instructions
    • brochures
    • posters
    • proposals
    • e-mails
    • requests for assistance
    • speeches
  • What else? your own materials and procedures, which you clear with me