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SCHOOL SYSTEMS FOR THE MODERN WORLD

School Systems for the Modern World

Jesus Vega

TEL 311 Signature Assignment

Classroom Project Proposal

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SCHOOL SYSTEMS FOR THE MODERN WORLD
Abstract

The twenty first century has brought upon drastic changes to society and the world as we know

it in terms of technology. All of human knowledge is literally at our fingertips with our current

smartphones and computers. Almost everyone has some kind of internet access whether it be

on their phone or at home, which is something that couldn’t be said in the1980’s. Almost all

aspects of society have acclimated well to these advances in technology. Public education,

however, is still in the process of figuring out how to best integrate technology into the

curriculum. This is where project based learning can be very useful. As the students take on a

real world problem, they can participate in learning activities which involve technology along

the way. This is how project based learning would look, in an 8th grade classroom tasked with

answering the driving question, “how can we as a society design a school system to fit the

needs of the modern world?”

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Applicant and School Environment Narrative

My name is Jesus Vega, and I am an 8th grade math teacher here at Payne Jr high. I

currently teach 4 periods a day, with about 30 students in each class. I always try to integrate

technology into my classroom as best as I can. I am always trying to stay up to date with all the

new technological advancements that emerge as a result of an ever increasing cutting-edge

society. I believe that education has always lagged behind such advances and that this is a great

shame, as education can greatly benefit from what technology has to offer, as all other sectors

of society have. I believe that many times, we are inclined to resist change as we are not

comfortable using tools that we don’t fully understand. Other times, we are just flat out lazy to

learn about how to best use all of these new resources. We must end that cycle when it comes

to the education of our students. We must make it a mission to always be updated with the best

platforms of providing education to our children. In these days, those platforms are all through

technology.

Payne Jr High School is located in Chandler, Arizona and is a part of the Chandler Unified

School District. Chandler is a suburb of Phoenix and in 2016, had a median household income of

$75,369 (datausa.io). Payne Jr High’s mission statement is, “To empower all students with the

knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to excel in college, career, and life.” The school is

equipped fairly well with all the basic needs of a junior high school. The school is not missing

anything of major importance, and most students have the fortune of owning a smartphone.

While Payne Jr High does provide opportunities for students to engage with technology, more

could be done in terms of integrating technology to its fullest capacity.

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Project based learning would be a great way to experiment with all the different ways

technology can be used in the classroom. Project based learning revolves around the students

actively taking on a real world problem, and coming up with creative solutions to that problem.

Through project based learning, the students would participate in a variety of activities that

involve the use of technology as well as mathematical content to answer a driving question

about the real world problem they are tasked with. The effects the students would feel though

project based learning involve a wider world view, creative problem solving skills, and being a

more advanced digital citizen. The benefits would go beyond the scope of a regular math class

alone.

Summary of project and Project impact

Summary of project

the project will consist of the students answering the driving question, “how can we as

a society design a schooling system to fit the needs of the modern world?” The project is

needed as students often say that much of what we learn in school is not used in “real life.”

They also have complaints as to the scheduling/structure of the current school system in terms

of how students get placed in their classes, school start time, and how long a school day should

be. This project would give students a chance to think about what a perfect schooling system

would be to them, and how they would go about advocating for reform. The project also

provides students an opportunity to utilize mathematical content in their ideas for reform.

Students must utilize algebra and statistics to propose changes to how long classes should be,

how long the school day should be, and what the data says is the best option. Some activities
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would include hosting debates among students, researching the school system in the U.S and in

other countries, and using scientifically backed research to propose changes to our current

school system. The project would impact student learning and engagement in a positive way if

students are awarded some realistic changes to their school day, as school would be more

tailored to their needs.

Student impact

Initially, just the students in my class would be impacted as they think about the

difficulties of designing a new school system, but if changes are able to be made in my current

school at least, the number of students impacted would be in the hundreds. Through the

project-based learning activities, students will learn just how difficult it is to try and

accommodate everyone’s needs, and will gain a greater appreciation for the current school

system as they would realize that it’s not perfect, but creating a perfect school system is very

difficult. The students would also consider how their new proposed school system maximizes

student learning.

Teacher impact

As a teacher, it is also very interesting to think about what the students would want in an

ideal school system. This project would help me know how to keep my students engaged during

class, as I would have a greater insight as to what motivates them. In this same manner, my

fellow teachers would be impacted as well.

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Community Impact

as a community, having students who are more motivated and engaged during school

will provide a more educated society in the future. The school would be impacted positively, as

students who like and appreciate school, will do better on examinations, and thereby make the

school look better. The community may also be impacted if the school system the students

propose involve changes in transportation, or possibly construction that would be required.

Project Narrative

Day Learning goals Description of Assessment Technology and

and standards Project-Based support

Learning Unit

Activities
1 Students will Students will be I will grade student Necessary formulas

be able to asked to decide on responses to and materials will

answer the what everyone’s worksheets and be presented

essential favorite food is. As give appropriate through a Prezi

question, “How they go around feedback to ensure presentation

can we as a asking everybody, I that the aspects of

society design a will introduce terms statistics I wanted

school system like “taking the to get across were

to fit the needs average” and what received

of the modern mean median and

world?” mode are and how

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to go about

Students will calculating them

be able to

apply statistics Students will work

in the real in small groups to

world. brainstorm ideas to

answer the driving

Learning question and also

standards: work through work

8.SP.A.1 sheets

8.SP.A.2
2 Students will Students will be I will grade student Necessary content

be able to asked to create a responses to material will be

identify the perfect school worksheets to presented through

algebraic schedule for them, ensure students a Prezi

formulas with the condition have the necessary presentation

necessary to that school still has algebra skills

create a school to be 7 hours long. needed to propose

schedule As they work an alternate bell

through this, I will schedule

Learning introduce the

standards: necessary content

8.MP.1 material required.

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SCHOOL SYSTEMS FOR THE MODERN WORLD
8.MP.2

Students will work

in small groups and

individually to work

through the

worksheets given in

class
3 Students will Students will Students will give Research will be

be able to research the each different conducted through

identify and commonalities and school system they the world wide

describe all of differences among learn about a web. Additionally,

the different the school days grade. How they other resources

school systems from district to decide to grade a may be used such

within their district as well as school system, or as calls with other

own state, as state to state all what items to districts or

well as the within the U.S include in a rubric accessing public

united states as will be up to them. records.

a whole. Students will pay This will prompt

special attention to the students to

Students will statistical think critically

be able to information about what they

interpret gathered from each value the most, or

statistical individual school what aspects they

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SCHOOL SYSTEMS FOR THE MODERN WORLD
figures in a system. think are the most

data set important when it

comes to rating the

success of a school.

Learning

Standards:

8.MP.5, 21st

century

research
4 Students will Students will Students will give Research will be

be able to conduct research on each different conducted through

identify and education in major school system they the world wide

describe school countries around learn about a web. Additionally,

systems around the world grade. How they other resources

the world decide to grade a may be used such

Students will Students will gather school system, or as calls with other

be able to statistical what items to districts or

identify and information from include in a rubric accessing public

interpret each school system, will be up to them. records.

statistical as well as This will prompt

figures in a information on how the students to Students may also

data set they run their day- think critically try and interview a

to-day activities. about what they few international

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SCHOOL SYSTEMS FOR THE MODERN WORLD
Learning value the most, or students via skype

Standards: what aspects they or some other form

8.MP.6, think are the most of face to face

21st century important when it technology.

research, ISTE- comes to rating the

Global success of a school.

Collaborator
5 Students will Students will be Students will be Students will

be able to grouped in teams to given a required conduct surveys

gather and conduct surveys amount of through the online

collect data in a across their own responses they tool “Google

real world school campus, as must record and a Surveys”

scenario. well as schools grade will be given

within other accordingly

districts

Learning Students will read

Standards: Teams will decide other groups’

8.MP.4, on which questions surveys and give

21st century they should ask on feedback on the

Research, 21st the survey questions asked

century within the survey

collaboration
6 Students will Students will be Students will be Students will
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be able to grouped in teams graded on the conduct interviews

analyze and and tasked with quality of the via skype or some

quantify data finding one interviews given. other internet tool

from an international Questions will be that allows for face

interview. student to interview graded on whether to face

Learning or not they led to communication.

Standards: Students will record meaningful

8.MP.5, data gathered from discussion.

21st century all the different

research, ISTE- interviews.

Global

Collaborator
7 Students will Students will spend A grade will be Students will

be able to the day analyzing all assigned according organize all of the

analyze and of the different data to the accuracy of data gathered in an

provide gathered from the the numerical excel sheet.

elements of research, surveys, summary given by

statistics given and the interviews. the students.

a data set. Points will be

Students will deducted if

Learning compare and calculations are

Standards: contrast the data incorrect

8.SP.A.1, gathered from the

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ISTE- U.S and abroad

Computational

Thinker, ISTE- Students will

Knowledge provide a numerical

Constructor summary of all the

different data

gathered
8 Students will Students will work Students will assess Students will

be able to use in their assigned and provide communicate with

different groups to come up feedback to each team members via

branches of with changes to the groups proposed a shared google

mathematics to current education school system doc

design a new system

school system. I will also award

Students will points based on

Learning answer the driving the creativity and

Standards: question, “how can whether or not the

8.MP.3, we as a society proposed changes

ISTE-Innovative design a school are statistically

Designer, 21st system to fit the supported.

Century needs of the

Creativity modern world?”

9 Students will Students will work A grade will be Students will have
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be able to in small groups to assigned according the freedom to

represent data create a vibrant to the creativeness choose from a

in various presentation for the of each groups variety of

forms. proposed school presentation presentation tools

Students will system they created such as google

be able to in day 8. Individual grades slides, PowerPoint,

decide which will also be and Prezi

chart is assigned according

appropriate for to how much each

a given statistic. group member

Students will contributed

be able to

model with

mathematics

Learning

Standards:

8.MP.4,

ISTE-Innovative

Designer, 21st

Century

Creativity, ISTE-
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Creative

Communicator
1 Students will Students will Teachers and Students will have

0 be able to give present their final administration will complete freedom

a numerical presentations to rate individual to choose

summary of a other students, students’ whichever

data set. teachers, and presentations presentation tool

Students will administration. they would like.

be able to

decide which

chart are

appropriate for

a desired

opinion.

Students will

be able to

model with

mathematics

Learning

Standards:

8.MP.4, 21st
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Century

Communication

, ISTE-Creative

Communicator

Innovation

This project is innovative as students often times are not asked about the changes they

would like to see to their school. This project will give them that opportunity, and it will allow

them to gain a much broader understanding of the education system not only in the U.S, but

around the world as well. Having an understanding of the changes students would like to see

will help me as an educator know where their motivations lie. If possible, some changes could

be made in class to accommodate some of the proposed changes.

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Budget Table and Narrative

Item name Individual Number needed Company/Company URL for ordering

cost of

item
Google free 150 https://myaccount.google.com

Account
Microsoft Free for 150 https://products.office.com/en-

office schools us/academic/compare-office-365-

education-plans

Prezi account Free 150 https://prezi.com

version
Skype Free 150 https://www.skype.com/en/

account
Chromebook $199.99 30 https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/

chromebooks/all-chromebooks
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Narrative

The students will be utilizing a variety of online tools throughout the course of this

project. Thus, the students should have access to the internet, which is why chrome books

should be supplied. A google account is needed in order for students to utilize the online tool

“google surveys.” The account is free of charge and the tool provides a nice way for students to

conduct their surveys in an organized manner. Microsoft office is needed for students to utilize

Microsoft word and Excel, tools that students will be using to write up reports and organize

data. Microsoft office is free for educational institutions. A Prezi account is necessary for

students to create their final presentations. Students however, just need the free version. Lastly,

students may need a skype account in order to conduct interviews with other students who are

overseas.
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References

Standards: Mathematics. Retrieved from https://www.azed.gov/standards-

practices/k-%20%20%20%20%2012standards/mathematics-standards/

Cadby, R. Data USA. Retrieved from https://datausa.io/

Editors at google. Google Accounts. Retrieved from https://myaccount.google.com/

Editors at Microsoft. Microsoft Office. Retrieved from https://products.office.com/en-

us/academic/compare-office-365-education-plans

Editors at Prezi. Prezi Account. Retrieved from https://prezi.com

Editors at skype. Skype accounts. Retrieved from https://www.skype.com/en/

Editors at Samsung. Chromebooks. Retrieved from

https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/chromebooks/all-chromebooks
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Appendix

Teachers: Jesus Vega Subject: Math Grade: 8

Common Core State Standards:

 8.SP.A.1
 8.SP.A.2
Objective (Explicit):

 Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to recognize the importance of statistics when it comes to
making informed decisions about society.
Evidence of Mastery (Measurable):

¨ Include a copy of the lesson assessment.

¨ Provide exemplar student responses with the level of detail you expect to see.
¨ Assign value to each portion of the response
Mastery: Student fully understands how statistics is currently used when a decision is made about some aspect of society. Student also understands

the various parameters that go into statistics like mean, median, and mode.

Proficient: The student has some understanding of statistics in the real world, and knows that there are some values people care about when trying

to decide on something.

Novice: The student does not understand how statistics relates to the real world, and does not understand the parameters of statistics

Sub-Objectives, SWBAT (Sequenced from basic to complex)

¨ How will you review past learning and make connections to previous lessons?
¨ What skills and content are needed to ultimately master this lesson objective?
¨ How is this objective relative to students, their lives, and/or the real world?

 Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to provide a mean, median, and mode from a data set.
Key vocabulary: mean, median, mode, statistics, Materials: pencil, paper, calculator

parameters, average, outliers

Engage

¨ How will you activate prior knowledge?

¨ How will you hook student attention?
¨ What question will you pose, based on your objective, that students will seek to answer in Explore?
Teacher Will: Students Will:

 will explain to students that the district is looking to make  Will brainstorm ideas about some changes they would like
changes to the current school system in which they are in, but to see
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they need the help of the students to make good well informed  Think about how statistics can help us decide on such
revisions. changes
 The driving question will be introduced, “how can we as a society
design a schooling system to fit the needs of the modern world?”

Explore

¨ How will you model your performance expectations? (Remember you are not modeling what you want students to discover but need to model
expected behavior or required procedures.)
¨ How will students take the lead and actively use materials to discover information that will help them answer the question posed in the Engage?
¨ What questions or prompts will you be prepared to use with students while they are “exploring”?
Teacher Will: Students Will:

 Explain to students that in the real world, we like to collect and
analyze data to help us make informed decisions
 Ask students what values they think are most important when
analyzing a data set and why
 Ask students how they would go about calculating such numbers
Co-Teaching Strategy
 Discuss how they can use data to help them make
decisions
 Come up with values they think are significant about a data
set
 Discuss how certain values should be calculated

¨ What co-teaching approach will you use to maximize student achievement?

Differentiation Strategy

¨ What accommodations/modifications will you provide for specific students?

¨ How will you anticipate students that need an additional challenge?

 Teacher will be ready to respond to any questions students may have

 Teacher will allow those who are confident in their answers to speak up in class
Explain

¨ How will all students have an opportunity to share what they discovered?
¨ How will you connect student discoveries to correct content terms/explanations?
¨ How will all students articulate/demonstrate a clear and correct understanding of the sub-objectives by answering the question from the Engage
before moving on?
Teacher Will: Students Will:

 Point out the parameters that people often want to know given a  Learn about parameters such as mean, median and mode
data set  Work through sample problems in which they must solve
 Explain what each parameter means in its entirety, and how to go for mean, median and mode
about solving for them  Know how some parameters may be misleading or easily
 Explain how a certain parameter may be misleading swayed by outliers
 Explain why in some instances some parameters are preferred
over others
Co-Teaching Strategy

¨ What co-teaching approach will you use to maximize student achievement?

Differentiation Strategy

¨ What accommodations/modifications will you provide for specific students?

¨ How will you anticipate students that need an additional challenge?

 Teacher will allow time for every students to finish working on their problems and will answer any questions those students who need extra
help may have
 Teacher will let students who need an additional challenge explain their solutions to the class
Elaborate

¨ How will students take the learning from Explore and Explain and apply it to a new circumstance or explore a particular aspect of this learning at a
deep level?
¨ How will students use higher order thinking at this stage (e.g. A common practice in this section is to pose a What If? Question)?
¨ How will all students articulate how their understanding has changed or been solidified?
Teacher Will: Students Will:

 Give students real world problems in which statistical information  Work through the new problems
was needed  See the real world application of this branch of
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 Point out some difficulties that arise when using statistics in the
real world, like the fact that you cannot gather data from
everyone in the U.S
 Explain how those difficulties are dealt with
mathematics
 Understand that we can only gather samples when trying
to get information from a very large population
 Come up with ideas of how to use statistics to answer the
driving question

Co-Teaching Strategy

¨ What co-teaching approach will you use to maximize student achievement?

Differentiation Strategy

¨ What accommodations/modifications will you provide for specific students?

¨ How will you anticipate students that need an additional challenge?

 Teacher will explain the word problems in deeper depth for students needing more help
 Teacher will let students who need an additional challenge put work on the board
Evaluate

¨ How will all students demonstrate mastery of the lesson objective (though perhaps not mastery of the elaborate content)?
¨ How will students have an opportunity to summarize the big concepts they learned (separate from the assessment)?
Teacher Will: Students Will:

 Grade all problems given in class and provide feedback  Complete all practice problems
 Answer student questions throughout the lesson  Answer questions throughout class
 Notice where students are having trouble  Complete homework at home