Day 1:  Monday, February 9, 2015

Unit Question: What is the power of an idea?

1.) Discussed:  What is the ENVIRONMENT of a good/great idea?

2.)  Watched Steven Johnson speech:  Where good ideas come from...

3.)  Discussed:

    *an idea is a NETWORK (not a single thing)

    *ideas are “recycled”/re-invented from existing ideas

    *a liquid network / a chaotic environment

    *great ideas often come from MISTAKES

    *great ideas have a long incubation process (a “slow hunch” / fade into view)

4.)  Discussed how we (individuals, schools, etc.) can CREATE environments that allow for more connections (connecting ideas vs. protecting ideas), and slow hunches to incubate

5.)  Discussed “So what does this mean for US?”

    *a coffee house in this class  :)

    *conversation prompts ideas (that’s why we TALK...it is connections!)

    *time should be given for s-l-o-w h-u-n-c-h-e-s (that’s why you get assignments right away)

    *learn to look at things differently in this class (that’s why I challenge existing ideas)

    *learn to embrace mistakes in this class (that’s how we break ruts/get to something NEW!)

6.) Discussed NEXT speech assignment:  Ideas Speech (“Personal TED Talk”) 

Homework:

Watch a TEDtalk of your choice before Tuesday.  Complete this HANDOUT (page 1).  *If you are also scheduled to give a commentary speech on your TEDtalk, be sure to bring your GREEN RUBRIC (page 2 of above handout) for Ms. Price to grade your speech.

Day 2:  Tuesday, February 10, 2015

TEDtalk Tuesday

Wednesday, February 11, 2015 = Ms. Price sick

Day 3:  Friday, February 13, 2015 = Friday Forum

Monday, February 16, 2015 = Mid-Winter Break

Day 4:  Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Unit Question: What is the power of an idea?

1.) Discussed:  What is the role of questions in ideas?

2.)  Watched video about great discoveries that started with questions...

3.)  Discussed “slight edge” ideas.

4.) Watched a video about “where ‘good’ ideas come from?

5.)  Ms. Price gave next speech assignment.  You can print HERE.

Homework:

1.) Over the next 3 days, keep a LIST OF QUESTIONS.  (you must write them down as they ‘come’ to you.)  BRING LIST ON FRIDAY.

2.)  Over the next couple weeks, pay attention to what makes makes you laugh / what you find funny.  (Write down.)

Day 5:  Wednesday, February 18, 2015

TEDtalk Tuesday

Friday, February 20, 2015 = No School (extreme temps)

Monday, February 23, 2015 = No School (extreme temps)

Day 6:  Tuesday, February 24, 2015

TEDtalk Tuesday

Day 7:  Wednesday, February 25, 2015

1.)  Reviewed:

        -What is the ENVIRONMENT of a good idea?

        -Where do good ideas come FROM?

        -What is the role of QUESTIONS in ideas?

2.)  Discussed questions that students wrote down from the week & wrote questions in Process Journals

3.)  Discussed:  How do ideas SPREAD?

Homework: Pay attention to questions, and ideas they “spark”...keep a list.  Let it “lead you” to your TED talk topic!  :)

Day 8:  Thursday, February 26, 2015 (had Thursday class due to snow days)

1.)  Discussed “How can existing ideas hold us back?”

2.)  Watched the following clips and discussed ideas presented:

3.)  Discussed how IDEAS are developed into audience-worthy talks (ask the QUESTIONS about your topics that lead to something NEW).  Reviewed ideas from some of our class talks and looked at examples of TEDtalks about these topics.  Some examples as follows:

Discussed in class:  Marriage:  Social or Sacred Construct?  (example talk - 3:30)

Discussed in class:  Are money & happiness connected?  (example - 2:50; example - 2:05)

Discussed in class:  Is experience necessary to truly understand others?

Discussed in class:  Is there a “best” age for marriage?  What are the effects of the “Princess factor” on marriage?

Homework: 

Your individual “TED-style” talk is due ________________.  You can print speech assignment HERE.

Day 9:  Friday, February 27, 2015 = Friday Forum

Day 10:  Monday, March 2, 2015

(Students were given conference time with Ms. Price to work on topics for TED speech)

Tuesday, March 3, 2015 = Juniors Testing

Day 11-12:  Wednesday, March 4, 2015 & Friday, March 6, 2014

(Students were given conference time with Ms. Price to work on topics for TED speech)