Education of First Nations PowerPoint.
For the first project, a socials one, I have chosen a PowerPoint I helped put together with some of my classmates. Below is a link to that project.
First Nations Education PowerPoint
In this project, we were set out in groups of four to I researched the state of education for First Nations in both the past and the present day. I collected that research and formed a PowerPoint presenting our findings. I have included a link to the script I have used during that presentation. First Nations Education Script. However, some complications came up and I eventually had to present my final project months after it was due. It was a comedy of errors that eventually turned out fine. If you want to know the full story give an email.
The four criteria items I chose are shown below:
- I tailor my work to appeal to my intended audience and use language and visual design elements appropriate for them
First up is number seven. In this project, one of the main focuses besides researching the topic was presenting it in such a way that my other classmates would understand it in more detail. This was in the form of a Pecha Kucha-like PowerPoint presentation. Since this project limited the number of words per slide down to fifty, plus a quote, it became difficult to write all that I needed to say. Whoever, being a PowerPoint presentation, I was able to keep my slides short and visually appealing while having a script to fill in the rest of what I needed to say. It also helped that I knew my audience and could work to what I knew appealed to them.
- I go beyond google and use databases to find scholarly research sources
Secondly, we have number eleven. The main emphasis of this project was looking at a point of interest concerning Indigenous people’s with a small group. However, many of these issues run out of credible information fairly quickly when only using Google. To fix this, my teacher recommended various online databases available through the Gleneagle library that we could find useful. After my preliminary research with Google, I became interested and went to look into a few of these. Now after I am finished the project, I am extremely grateful to my teacher for showing me these sources. Gale Canada in Context specifically helped very much to fully flesh out the problem to me. It provided me with articles I never would have found on my own. I may not have shown anything from these databases in my final project, but they gave me a better grasp of the issue than Google ever could.
- I look at controversial issues or topics from opposed perspectives to gain a more complete understanding
Next, number twelve. While researching for this project, it was important to look at as many angles and facets of the issue as I could to get the full picture. I didn’t look at opposing sides per se, though a little bit. Rather, I looked for as much information from different people and views as I could regarding a similar, though slightly shifting, idea. The more solutions or ways to define the problem I started to find, the better of a grasp I had on the entire problem. It was also interesting to look at different people’s views in the past as well. For example, I examined the thoughts behind residential schools and why they were accepted at the time.
- I attribute credit to ideas that are not my own by preparing a Bibliography/Works Cited and by using in-text citations
Finally, we have number thirteen. One of the requirements for this project was to create a bibliography slide or slides and credit the most important websites and all pictures used to form the PowerPoint. You can see these as the last two slides of the PowerPoint linked to above. We chose to only cite the most important websites though more were used when researching. As well, I credited the site that I took the quote from in slide six. It is important to credit all of the people that you took direct ideas from.
Shakespeare Vignette:
Second on the list, an English assignment. This Shakespeare vignette was a project where I, and a group of three others, researched and condensed an act of the play A Midsummer Night’s dream into a short 5-7 minute play. This assignment was to test our knowledge of the play we had all just finished as a class. However, we were able to do that in a fun, less traditional way by making a short performance to present in front of the class. This included everything from making and memorizing a script to creating simple costumes for different characters. The fun thing about this project is that when presenting we were told to put a spin on our scene to make it more fun. I don’t have the recorded video of my performance, but Mr. Morris does. However, the biggest problem and takeaway from this project has to be the group work I did which I will go in-depth about later.
- I use digital spaces to plan and execute collaborative projects with my peers
Number one. When formulating my script, my entire group recorded all of our thoughts on a Word document. Throughout the project, my group interacted many times in person. However, all work was brainstormed and completed virtually. In addition, I also used digital spaces as a means of correspondence to contact and interact with my peers outside of the school environment. We used these platforms to do anything from share ideas to plan times to meet up and practice our performance. The only part of the project that wasn’t digital was the actual performance, which was live in front of my classmates.
- I respond to the work or ideas of my peers in a way that is compassionate and productive
Regarding number three. The first part of this task was to thoroughly look through our chosen act and summarize to down into its fundamental parts. This was so that when presenting, the main parts of the story remained even when the twist was added. However, first, our group had to read, reread and decide on what parts were and weren’t important to put into the script. We all worked together in producing the final product, but in that, we had a few minor disagreements. However, throughout the project, I think I did one of the best jobs of trying to keep our group on task and to defuse and trouble that I believed might have been coming up. As well, when there was a difference of opinion between members, I tried my hardest to be as nice as possible when coming to an answer.
- I constructively build upon or synthesize the ideas of my peers
Next, number four. Going back to the stage I was talking about in my last paragraph, making the script was one of the major parts of this project. The hardest part of this was a difference of opinion. Almost everybody thought that we should do this project differently. However, when we did finally decide on a final topic, I was the first to build and improve upon it. I tried my hardest to take what we had decided to add my thoughts to the mix while retaining the same base idea. As well, as all good performers know, it’s less about “yes, but”, and more about, “yes, and.”
- I identify and discuss bias in research sources
Finally, number five. This one may be a little interesting, but I think I will be able to explain it. When creating our script, we only had one source. Correction, we had one source material and multiple sites with their take on the source material. That source is Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It is almost impossible to discuss bias when only referencing one source material. However, I thought of this idea another way. Our main goal when writing the script was to take the most important parts of the work and get rid of most of the rest. Here is where I can sense bias. When deciding on those most important parts, some are more important than others. It takes the ability to identify bias to see if any of my other group members, or myself, had their heart set on doing a part of the act that was possibly funny but unimportant. To complete this task successfully, only the most important scenes were needed.
Cell Speech:
Now onto Science. This is my cell speech. In this assignment, we were tasked to do a minute and a half speech on a part of the cell. Our class also did a PowerPoint related to this topic, but it was lost somehow. This speech was made to inform my other classmates on a part of the cell and vice versa. It was only a minute and a half so I had to condense all of my research to be as brief and informative as possible. I have no record of the final product being presented, but if you ask my peers or teacher, they can vouch for me.
- I tailor my work to appeal to my intended audience and use language and visual design elements appropriate for them
First, number two. When creating my slide for the PowerPoint, I worked with knowing my classmates. I did my best to keep all of my slides visually appealing while still keeping the theme of the presentation. For example, I put pictures in the background of my slides, but pictures of the part of the cell that I was talking about. I also tried to use as much of my limited PowerPoint ability at the time to spruce things up a bit. As well, since I was teaching my classmates, I tried to keep confusing wording and new scientific words to a minimum. The few new words I included, I explained thoroughly.
- I challenge myself to increase my technological literacy by working with apps, software, or mediums that I have not used in the past
Moving on, number eight. I did this project quite early on in the course of this school year. At that time, I had not very much knowledge of proper PowerPoint etiquette. I was familiar that the program existed and had used it once or twice. However, I was still very new at designing my slides. Now, on the other hand, I have quite a handful of knowledge being in a Marketing 11 class and having to do frequent PowerPoint presentations. I was also confused about how to integrate a speech and presentation. This assignment began my knowledge of the subject that I am still working on.
- I critically assess research sources for Currency, Reliability, Authority, and Purpose
Lastly, number nine. Part of this project was creating a speech to go along with your slides on the PowerPoint presentation. Even though your speech was only around a minute and a half, you still had to know your part of the cell upside-down and backwards. To do this, you had to have creditable information. The easiest way to do this is the CRAP test. Is it current, reliable/ relevant, authoritative/authentic, and purposeful? I used this test before looking up any information on my part of the cell. It was slightly disappointing that I had to double-check some of my information but good that I was able to catch myself.
Eminent:
Eminent was one of the biggest projects I did this entire year. It had multiple parts including the Eminent speech and final presentation. I will be focusing mostly on the final presentation. On the night of Eminent, I was to create and present an interactive display regarding my chosen Eminent person. I was to show why they were not recognized to the world but why they should be. The following link will take you to my OneNote. The page is my self-assessment of the final project. At the bottom, there are pictures of my work.
- I enhance the impact of my research or presentation through the creative use of technology
To start, number five. When presenting my final project n night of Eminent, I chose to include multiple elements to it. First, I had a poster board, however, that isn’t very technical. However, since my Eminent person was a musician, I had his various music playing from a speaker around my area of presentation. This may not have been a huge technical addition to this project, but it still meant a lot to me to hear others liking the music of my person. This shows how even using technology slightly can improve your project more than you thought. However, too much technology can be a bad thing too, then your project becomes busy and heavy to take in.
- I determine and use the most effective medium to present my work
Following that, Number six. When deciding on how to present my final work, I had many options. I could make a PowerPoint, a diorama, or many, many more. However, I finally decided on a simple poster board. I thought that this was an effective, easy to produce, and easy to read medium to show my learning. It had fewer words than a normal board, as to catch your attention at a glance and bright, colourful designs. I also chose to show what made my person Eminent, his music, in the background all night. In addition to those, I also had a violin to drive home the musical nature of my chosen person. I think all of these mediums together combined into an effective presentation.
- My work demonstrates a positive, productive, and empathetic worldview
Very finally, number fifteen. The entire point of this project was to look deep into the life of someone who hasn’t been recognized by society as much as you think they should. I was able to look into and then share this person’s life with those around me on the night of Eminent. I believe this produced a positive worldview. I was able to empathize with some of my person’s challenges and produce a positive image to improve those around me. Throughout this project, the more I learned, the more I was finally able to share and let others in on a more positive and empathic way of seeing some of the people of this world. Not only me, but both of my classes did this showing a plethora of ways to better the world.