Lights, Camera, Action!

This week we will do a broad variety of things, but they all relate to one another.  The purpose of these activities is to prepare you for different challenges you may face when you actually get out into the workforce.  See below for a breakdown of our daily tasks:

Tuesday:

Clear Target: We can create an effective electronic presentation

Since we focused on creating the slide show last week and didn’t get around to actually crafting specific talking points, we need to take time in class on Tuesday to make sure this gets done. 

I will begin class with a mini lecture about focusing on talking points rather than a script, discuss how your presentation lends itself to specific talking points, and use some of your slides as a great example of how to utilize talking points to complement the great presentation you made.  Hopefully after my lecture and demo, some of you will be inspired to amend/refine the slides even further to make sure our presentation is as great as it can be.

Wednesday:

Clear Target: We can analyze concepts related to initiative and self-direction.

I’m going to be straightforward and transparent with this message.  Thus far, as a class, we have not completed as much work as I expected.  The two main reasons for this are that my expectations are set very high and only some of you are making use of your time outside class to meet deadlines. 

Those of you who make the extra effort are demonstrating strong initiative and self-direction.  These two characteristics are essential 21^st century skills that are critical for advancement in today’s workforce. 

With that said, you will read this blog and this article and do some brainstorming.  With only a couple hundred words of information from this 2011 blog and 2015 article, you will answer the following questions:

What, if anything, do you do that demonstrates strong initiative and self-direction, or true grit? 

How can you apply initiative and self-direction in the classroom and/or at work?

What other methods of demonstrating initiative and self-direction (true grit) do you plan to implement moving forward?

Your answers to these questions should be formulated into an essay of at least 250 words and emailed to me when finished.

Thursday and Friday:

Clear Target: We can create an electronic presentation

When I return to school on Thursday, we will work on giving our WBL informative presentation.  I anticipate Thursday to be a day in which we practice using our talking points to frame what is said and how it is delivered.  By Friday, I expect our presentation to be buttoned up to the point that I can record it and be happy to share it with Northwest Review and/or other teachers and students in the school. 

As was the case last week, you can take the initiative and work on the Student Self-Assessment of Skills and the Student Skills Assessment Rubric.  The answers you submit in these forms are constantly changing since you should be obtaining additional skills as we work through the school year.

That’s it for this week.  I’ll see you all tomorrow!