What issue is your team going to tackle?
As a team you are going to develop a collaborative project into an aspect or an issue relating to one of the eight topic highlighted below. However, at this time do not right any ideas off!
Conflict and peace |
Disease and health |
Human rights |
Language and communication |
Poverty and inequality |
Sport and recreation |
Tradition, culture and identity |
Water, food and agriculture |
As part of the research into one of these topic areas you must explore different cultural perspectives on the issue that you have chosen to investigate. As a team you will use your research findings to inform or support the production of an Outcome, which will take involve you as a team taking some form of action.
Task: Perspectives & Actions on Issues in our Oceans
Last week you investigated one of four current issues relating to our seas here in Hong Kong that was initiated through the review of a recent news article. In your team you are now going to discuss the issue and share the below with your team members.
Your teacher will give you an 'Action Matrix' (see below). Write down each idea for taking action on a separate post it note and then as a group decide where on the matrix this might sit. Obviously we would like our action to have the maximum impact in driving change, however, you do not want to undertake something that will consume your entire school life also!
- What was the issue that you were looking at?
- What evidence did you find as to the causes and consequences of this issue?
- Review the perspectives and feedback of others on this issue - students, parents and other responsible adults
- What suggestions did these groups of people have on possible courses of action that should be taken?
- What organisations are currently taking action both here in Hong Kong and around the world on your issue?
Your teacher will give you an 'Action Matrix' (see below). Write down each idea for taking action on a separate post it note and then as a group decide where on the matrix this might sit. Obviously we would like our action to have the maximum impact in driving change, however, you do not want to undertake something that will consume your entire school life also!
Being an Active ListenerActive listening is a communication technique used in counseling, training, and conflict resolution. It requires that the listener fully concentrate, understand, respond and then remember what is being said. You should be practicing this every time your team has a group discussion. Follow the below as a guideline.
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Task: Personal Inventory
We are all very different, that is what makes working in a team so interesting as we can all bring something to the party! Create an inventory on yourself using the below parameters. Your teacher will give you a table to fill out to do this or you can find a copy of it at this link.
Once you are done swap your personal inventory with another member of your team. You will now each take turns reading each others personal inventory out allowed. Remember to practice your 'Active Listening' skills as outlined above as you do this. As each person is speaking highlight areas where more than one group member has similar interests or frustrations. Could these be areas that you could pursue as a team project? Do any members have any particular skills that you think could be useful in undertaking your team project, highlight these also.
It is also important to consider times when you have helped others and when they have also helped you as this might trigger an opportunity for further action also.
- Interests: These are what you think about and what you would like to know more about.
- Skills & Talents: These have to do with things that you like to do or that you do easily or well.
- Frustrations: These are things that irritate you, make you mad, upset or cross. It doesn't matter how big or small you think it is, write it down!
- Being Helpful: Describe a time when you helped someone.
- Receiving Help: Describe a time when someone helped you.
Once you are done swap your personal inventory with another member of your team. You will now each take turns reading each others personal inventory out allowed. Remember to practice your 'Active Listening' skills as outlined above as you do this. As each person is speaking highlight areas where more than one group member has similar interests or frustrations. Could these be areas that you could pursue as a team project? Do any members have any particular skills that you think could be useful in undertaking your team project, highlight these also.
It is also important to consider times when you have helped others and when they have also helped you as this might trigger an opportunity for further action also.
Task: Scan the School
All of us spend a great deal of time at school everyday, right? So is this not the obvious place to start taking action and driving change? In your groups, what things annoy you, make you mad, upset you or you feel could be done better within our school community.
Task: Today's Issues in the News
Checking out the news is a great way to figure out what issues you might be interested in that are currently taking place around the world and within your own community. Your teacher will now give your group several newspapers. Follow the below instructions as you review the news.
- As a group go through the newspapers and cut out news articles that interest you individually or you feel a connection with.
- For each article that you cut out, if it is good news, make a check mark (or a smiley face) in the top right corner. If it is bad news, mark it with an "X" (or a frowny face).
- As a group share the articles that make you 'mad' or made you 'smile' and that you feel you have a connection with? Are there any similarities within the group? If so, how might you as a group get involved?
- From your article cut out the headline and some key sentences and phrases. Now paste in these into a table with the left hand column marked 'Good News' and the right hand column 'Bad News'. Cut out any images that your feel are powerful and related to your story also.
Task: Community News
What is happening in your local community? You will be given ten minutes to undertake an internet search to see what the issues are in your local area. Review the community news sites at this link to support you here. Write down any Good or Bad news in your table above.
Task: Get Focused
There are a huge array of meaningful projects that you could undertake, each having its own importance. The challenge is to figure out which gets you the most excited. Your teacher will give you a copy of the table below. Highlight areas and questions that interest you. Do this individually and then share your thoughts as a team.
Topic |
Global/International Perspectives |
Local/National Perspectives |
Family/Personal Perspectives |
Conflict and peace |
Why do wars and conflicts begin? Are wars an inevitable part of being human? Where is there conflict in the world today? What is the role of the UN in times of conflict? |
Which groups seem to be in conflict within my own country or community? Is it their interests or ideas that are conflicting? What political/ ethical systems enable people to live with their differences? |
What causes conflicts between me and my family or peers? How are these conflicts best resolved? How can this help me to understand conflict on a wider scale? |
Disease and health |
How do infant mortality rates and expected life spans compare in different countries? What are the reasons for this? What are the major health problems facing the world today? Is access to good health care a right? |
How good are my local health care and sports facilities? Are they equally available to everyone? Which people in my locality have the greatest health care needs? How well does my community cater for people with disabilities? |
What can I do to keep myself healthy? Do I have a responsibility to keep myself healthy, and if so, why? Where should I go if I have a health worry or need advice about staying healthy? How is my health effected by pollution? |
Human rights |
What are Human rights? How do they vary around the world? What are some of the main human rights issues? Do all Societies value human rights in the same way? Why do differences occur? |
What are some of the main Human rights issues in my own community? Are some groups of people less fairly treated than others? |
How much do I value my human rights? Do I take them for granted? How much do I value others human rights? What could I do to further human rights in my community? |
Language and communication |
How has the internet transformed the world? Why is it not always easy to make yourself understood in another country, even if you speak the language? Do other societies have different means of communication to those available in my country? |
How do people in my country communicate differently with each other? How does the role of the media affect political decisions in my country? What investment has my country made in communication systems? |
How does the way I communicate with my family and friends differ? How easy is it to be misunderstood? Why is it important to speak other languages? How does my personal use of the internet social media impact myself and others? How could I develop more efficient communication within my community? |
Poverty and inequality |
Why are some countries poorer than others and are all the people in these countries poor? How has the gap in equality changed between countries in recent years? In what way should richer countries be concerned about poverty in other countries? |
How does local society treat people differently? What is my country doing to combat poverty? How have some people in my country become wealthier than in comparison to other countries? |
How would I defi ne being poor? Why do I feel superior or inferior to other people? How do the roles in my family demonstrate equality/ inequality? |
Sport and recreation |
Has the Olympic movement contributed to global wellbeing? Why do some countries have more of a tradition in the arts than others? What is the purpose of museums? |
How might leisure facilities be improved in my community? What role does sporting success play in a nation’s development? Why do professional artists, musicians or sportsmen and sportswomen earn so much money? |
What part does sport play in my life? What would be an ideal work-life balance for me and how would I sustain it? Why do I or members of my family support a particular team? |
Tradition, culture and identity |
Why do people value tradition? Why do people divide into nations? Why do some people move from one country to another? How does this affect their lives? If we have ‘European citizens’, should we aim eventually for all people to be ‘world citizens’? |
What traditions give my country a sense of national identity? What role does culture play in the values of my society? How are people from my country identifi ed when they are abroad? |
What makes me proud of my country? What traditions does my family have? What does national identity mean to me and my friends? What cultural traditions have I inherited? |
Water, food and agriculture |
Why do some countries have an inadequate supply of clean water? Why do some countries have a surplus of food and others do not have enough food? How can growing genetically modifi ed (GM) crops solve food shortages around the world? |
What foods are important in my community and why? What emergency measures are in place for coping with droughts and floods in my community or country? What causes famine and drought and how do they affect my community? |
Where does my food come from? How does my own consumption of food How can I develop a more environmental impact of my own food? How is my health being influenced by food? How can my personal and family's food waste be reduced? How can hunger be addressed in my own community? What decisions or actions can I make about food to help others? |
Task: Mind Map it!In your team you will now revisit the activities that you did last week and start plotting out possible Team Projects ideas using a mind map. As you do this ensure you review the following:
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Once you have as many ideas mapped out as you can, review where each area might sit in regards to the 8 GP topic areas in the table above. If there is something that you would really like to do, but you feel it doesn't fit into any of the topic areas above speak to your teacher and they will support you in looking at how to adapt your area of interest so it hopefully will fit in.
As a team you will now need to narrow down your Team Project focus and the best way to do this is through the development of a research question. Move on to the next activity below to help you find your focus.
As a team you will now need to narrow down your Team Project focus and the best way to do this is through the development of a research question. Move on to the next activity below to help you find your focus.
Task: Finding Focus within your IssueAs a group first watch the video below that talks about what makes a good research question. Then work through the step by step stages in developing a research question. A well formulated research question is vital as it will provide a path to guide you through your research.
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Task: Perspectives on the Issue - Summer Research
Using the skills that you have just learnt to develop a research question your team is now going to devise 5 questions that you are going to ask people from a different culture on your issue while you are traveling this summer. These questions should be constructed so that you target gathering information that you have recognized that you need in the speech bubbles from the previous activity. These questions can be asked to people within Hong Kong if you are staying here also.
Below are some examples of who you might contact over the summer depending on the issue and topic area that you are focusing on.
During induction week next term you will be asked to present the finding of the cross cultural research that you have gathered over the summer along with an overview of your project. As a group complete this planning document to help organize your ideas and research for this.
- Extended Family Members;
- Charities and NGOs in the country you visit who work on similar projects;
- Companies who potentially work within your topic area of study;
During induction week next term you will be asked to present the finding of the cross cultural research that you have gathered over the summer along with an overview of your project. As a group complete this planning document to help organize your ideas and research for this.
Task: 3.9.27
3.9.27 is based on the experience of campaigners using media. They discovered that if you are being interviewed on television or radio, you need to be short and sharp to make your point about your campaign otherwise they may not use your soundbite. Even worse, you may come across as being confused, weak and unclear, which could damage your campaign.
The solution that campaigners came up with was to work out what to say in advance and keep to the rules of making...
The solution that campaigners came up with was to work out what to say in advance and keep to the rules of making...
3 POINTS IN 9 SECONDS USING 27 WORDS
It's a difficult skill to learn but can make all the difference to how the media perceive and present your campaign. As a group you must now write at 3.9.27 soundbite as to why your issue is important and worthy of a Team Project.