Digital IEP

I'll be the first to admit that during my student teaching I made no complex use use of technologies. In fact, I struggled just to get an entire class on the internet at the same time, using simple resources on prescribed websites such as the PBS history pages.

One typical "digital" assignment from last January was the following:

• 26 pieces of paper were distributed to the students, each bearing the name of an interesting person from 1880-1920. Some of the less complex ones were handed out to students who had a hard time doing research in the past (e.g.: Wright Brothers instead of William Jennings Bryant).
• The students were given free run of the internet (which essentially meant Wikipedia for most of them), and filled out information on pre-made sheets that were divided in categories such as "what are three interesting things this person did?", and "if this person came back from the dead and had only one thing to say, what would it be?".
• They then had to present their person to the class orally, while all the other students took notes on their person on yet another, simpler set of sheets for a participation grade.
• Three of the 26 people were picked at random as part of the unit final.

Here are some issues with the lesson:

• The lesson treated the internet as a giant encyclopedia.
• The lesson was entirely in the past.
• The lesson emphasized the studied persons' quirkier, less significant aspects.

Here is a possible second half of the lesson, which would involve the students more closely:

"A government for the people - but what do the people want?"

Let us take a look at a broad issue that reflects the social concerns of the turn of the century: state-sponsored health care. First, find the party named on the piece of paper you received in class, and go to the link listed to the right of it:

• Communist Party of America: People's World
  
• Republican Party: Debunking Democrats
  
• Socialist Action: Socialist Action News
  
• Green Party of the United States: Green Party Watch
  
• Democratic Party: The Huffington Post
  
• Boston Tea Party: BTP Blogs
• United States Marijuana Party: USMJP Political Forum
• Social Equality Party: World Socialist Website
  
• Socialist EqualityParty: socialequality.com
  
• Southern Party of Georgia: News Briefs
  
• Libertarian Party: The Party of Principle
  
• Working Families Party: NYWF - Vote Your Values
  
• Workers World Party: International Action Center
  
• Constitution Party: constitutionparty.com

Then find an article, post, or forum thread about health care, and enter the debate. You are expected to contribute at least twice in a constructive way. Other websites may be used with teacher authorization.

When this is done, write what you think your turn-of-the-century person may have said about the public health care debate, and why. You are allowed to begin a thread, or to follow threads started by classmates if there is no pre-existing thread. Then, compare/contrast that position to yours and to that of the party you were assigned to study.