Meliora students, what do you think? Is history repeating itself? What is different today than it was in 1963? What is the same or similar? Are we any closer to the ideal in the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness?" Include examples and/or sources to support your opinion.

Meliora students, what do you think of this statement? Do you agree or disagree? What example(s) do you have to support your position? Cite your source(s).

Meliora students:

1) What are (some of) the methods that have been used over the years to prevent certain segments of the population from voting? Please cite your source(s).

2) Is this a problem today, or is it completely resolved? Cite your source(s).

Meliora students, for deeper understanding of what the segregation laws were in Birmingham, Alabama at this time, please read the overview and linked city ordinance document found here:

https://opb.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/iml04.soc.ush.civil.bhamseg/segregation-ordinances-birmingham-al/#.YAECEOhKg2w

What surprises you?

I think this is the most important point of this article. I find it too easy to get bogged down in the academic details, yet it is the social side that will build trust, openness and lead to engagement.

Meliora students, what do you think? Given limited health care resources, what should be the decision making process in terms of who gets treatment? (Like many questions, there are no "#right" or "#wrong" answers, but different points of view) Explain your answer.

Meliora students, go to #Twitter (twitter.com) and browse tweets with the hashtag #NotDying4WallStreet (you do NOT need an account to browse):

1. Choose one that you find impactful in either a positive or negative way.
2. Explain in a reply below what your reaction is, and why.
3. In your reply, also post the link to the tweet you are referring to.

Meliora students, a line in our text says "The Aztecs believed that their god Huitzilopochtli needed to be suppiied with the hearts of enemy warriors or the sun would cease to rise and all life would come to an end." In what ways was the Aztecs worldview similar and different from the points this article is making? Explain

Meliora students, the Aztecs sacrificed children as well as adults. Is there a difference in how you feel about sacrificing people of different ages? If so, what is the difference? If not, why do you feel the way you do?

Meliora students, we are going to use this article to compare and contrast our behavior today and that of the #Aztecs.

Before reading further, what is your immediate response to this statement?

Meliora students, what do you think about this? Should chocolate be "localized," where only people near the growing areas have access? What other ways could the access be made more equitable?

Meliora students, what does this statement mean?

Meliora students, what is a commodity? What is a commodity trader?

Meliora students, what is a "supply chain?" What does a long supply chain say about the ecological impact?

Meliora students, what does #GDP mean? What does this tell us about people who live in these countries?

Meliora students, what do you think about this?

Meliora students, please note.

I would add Ta-Nehisi Coates and Ibram X Kendi to this list.

What does "white racial identity" even mean? I am white, so I fit this category. I am also a woman, which means there are other biases I am faced with that my male colleagues do not experience.

I grew up in a small town among a citizenry that was typically middle class, yet I was several rungs below most of them on the socio-economic ladder. How does my "whiteness" in that experience compare to that of my white peers? What about my experience in a small town vs those who grew up in urban environments?

Identity is a very complex construct and involves so many facets that I find it too simplistic to lump it into "white" vs "people of color." The experience and identity of someone from India is different from that of one from Mexico or Nigeria, yet we can (and often do) call all of those "people of color."

Are we asking the right questions?

Race often DOES refer to people of color. Maybe that is part of the problem? That we define race by color? A couple of years ago, I taught high school American History using race and class as the lenses through which we viewed our history. We began the year with a discussion on race and its definition. After a LOT of discussion and analysis, the students concluded that "race" is not real, but rather a social construct. As is also discussed in these NYT articles: https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/06/16/how-fluid-is-racial-identity/race-and-racial-identity-are-social-constructs. I wonder whether we should broaden the discussion to the wider issues of diversity, equity and inclusion?

I totally agree with this. Which is why I become enraged when the collective "we" tries to bury the past of our (American) history. In this category I include things like erasing artifacts of the American Civil War. The only way we will be able to heal the injuries is with honest conversations about our history, facing all the ugly AND beautiful truths.

This looks like anxiety to me. The student wants to succeed and is concerned they are not well prepared?

Is this for you to do, or some university Blackboard guru?

Sarah, this link goes to the Hypothes.is landing page.

I sympathize with the students' desire to find a more respectful name than "sweeping." They seem to have been effective in creating change, which is admirable. I wonder what steps have taken place to help the students understand how their tardiness impacts their learning?

This is a difficult chicken-egg situation. Grocery stores say they don't stock fresh fruits and vegetables because they don't sell; residents are discouraged because they can't find fresh foods. One form of combat I LOVE is the Green Bronx Machine, out of New York. https://greenbronxmachine.org/about-us/

An excellent example of this, also in Chicago, is the Mexican-American area known as Pilsen. One way the community has taken control is through the development of street murals, described here: https://interactive.wttw.com/my-neighborhood/pilsen/art-as-activism.

Bingo. Is that not the goal of education? To prepare learners for the workplace (and for civic participation).

Which is why "drill and kill" learning is ineffective. Learners must be able to generalize their learning to multiple domains and a broad variety of situations. In other words, to think.

The purpose of this community, and this activity of annotation, non?

https://education-reimagined.org/collections/what-is-learner-centered-education/

I've tried in vain to find an article I read in the recent past about how only a small percentage of educational technology products are effective in improving student achievement. I also enjoyed this article/chart, which illustrates how technology is a TOOL, not the method: https://www.iste.org/standards/for-students

I would say they broaden the conversation.

Of course! Always!

Whatever they contribute. It is easy to read without ever voicing anything. If I remain silent as a reader, it begs the question "if a tree falls in the forest..." It is only when I participate, respond to the text that I "bring" anything.

It must be public writing, since it is accessible to all who find it.

Meliora students, what do you think about this statement? Are there times "medical miracles" should NOT be used? Please give example(s).

Meliora students, how do you think she achieved this?

Meliora students, what do you think? Is your world inundated with noise? What actions do you take when you're surrounded by too much noise?

Meliora students, what specific ideals does this organization have? What role(s) does this organization have today? Provide a summary and cite your source.

Meliora students, the European belief that their colonies would want to continue to be colonies because of economic ties was incorrect. In today's global economy, are there examples of "colonization?" Are there countries that exert influence (e.g. money/aid, services, etc.) on other, economically disadvantaged countries? See if you can find an example and summarize it below, with a citation of your source.

Meliora students, find an example of a country that has struggled (past or present) as a result of such artificial boundaries. Summarize your findings, and provide a citation for your source.

Meliora students, does this behavior still exist in world politics? This article refers specifically to European powers; consider as well whether the United States has engaged in exploitation of other countries' resources.

Find an example of such exploitation (if it exists) and summarize it. Include a citation of your source.

Meliora students, please find an example of a country that won its independence from Europe through military force. Summarize what happened, and include a citation of your source.

Meliora students, which of these rights do you think are most often violated in Europe? Provide a link to EVIDENCE.

Meliora students, how many countries were represented in drafting this document? From how many and which continents?

Meliora students, please annotate phrases in this document which echo phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence and/or Constitution.

I don't know if this article is where I first read this idea, but maybe haptics are part of the equation?

"Being able to flip back and forth between pages, to hold a physical item that changes appearance as one moves through it (e.g., early in a book or magazine there are more pages on the right, and as the reader nears the end his or her progress is marked by a stack of pages on the left), and to refer to the printed item’s topography to find information in it are all print features that onscreen media lack."

In a recent conversation with my voracious literature-consuming son, I expressed impatience with (adult) reviewers on Goodreads who complain about books when they jump backwards and forwards in time and/or between different characters' points of view. My son pointed out that to follow these jumps is a learned skill, and it takes a lot of practice. Something I hadn't even considered, since these are adult reviewers.

In a similar vein, I find the teens I teach to want immediate action and a linear path, regardless of the storytelling format (e.g. film vs. book). This saddens me, as there is so much richness in taking time to build characters, plot, suspense, etc.

I find it fascinating that there is a link between reading literary fiction and developing empathy.

I've never explored Diigo. My instinct would have been to use Canva.

"empower all who want to share..." a great goal for all us us.

Hmmmmmm, not where I live. There is a significant focus on being in the "right" school district and reliance on sports.

BigData

A scene from Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, by JD Vance, has stuck with me. It was not about educational attainment, but social class, which I posit is intertwined with everything else in our lives. Vance was attending Yale Law School, and went to a dinner for soon-to-be graduates being wooed by a variety of law practices. As he surveyed the dining room, he was aghast at the proliferation of cutlery surrounding the dinner plates. In a panic, he went to the restroom and called his girlfriend to get the lowdown on cutlery protocol. As someone who comes from a working-class background, I totally identify with this scene. We are products not only of our access to quality education, but overall environment. I don't have magic answers to how to mitigate the chasm between classes, but I am convinced that most parents want their children to have lives that exceed the limitations (economic, educational, social) they have faced. How do we achieve this?

autodidact noun au·to·di·dact \ ˌȯ-tō-ˈdī-ˌdakt , -dī-ˈ , -də-ˈ \ : a self-taught person

List of famous autodidacts

“If the streets shackled my right leg, the schools shackled my left. Fail to comprehend the streets and you gave up your body now. But fail to comprehend the schools and you gave up your body later.” ― Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me

I would argue a well-designed project does a better job of covering the standards.It definitely provides a more #authentic, #real-world environment.

Always a danger, something we need to be very conscious of, even as we ask questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m7L7rX-xRg

Therefore, the familial relationship between Martha Jefferson and Sally Hemings was what, Meliora students? A gold star to the first person to correctly answer.

Meliora students, what other examples are there of black people (enslaved or not enslaved) whose own life didn't change, but whose actions helped change the lives of others? Be specific, and include a link to your source.

Meliora students, in Between the World and Me, how did Ta-Nehisi Coates describe his experience in Paris? Please provide a brief summary below.

Meliora students, find an example of another enslaved person who made choices that helped them improve their circumstances. Briefly describe how the slave influenced their situation, and provide a link to your source.

Meliora students, what do you think? Given that Sally Hemings was enslaved, do you think it is appropriate to consider her interactions with Thomas Jefferson a "relationship?" Explain your answer.

Meliora students, what are your thoughts? Would the disparity between Jefferson and Heming's status meant that she would have been unable to influence him? Explain your response.

I'm all about process!

Meliora students, what is the meaning of this word? Provide an example of another story (book, film, video game, etc.) that includes a simulacrum.

Meliora students, who caught this?

Meliora students, what do you think of this claim? Do you agree or disagree? Why? Specifics, please.

Meliora students, what did you think of this scene? What is the narrator implying about David's ability to dream?

Meliora students, do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Provide a specific example to support your viewpoint.

Meliora students, what do you think of this name? Was it accidental? Why may the filmmakers chosen this name for the character?

Meliora students, what is the story of Oedipus? Who was it written by? When? What is another story (book, film) you know that uses the Oedipal theme?

Their social reality is not the same. What about economic? Demographic?

Playing devil's advocate, how reliable was their report?

I see this as a two-way street. We want to join the conversation at the table, and to feel we will be heard. We also need to be open to listening to the opinions/ideas of the others at the table.

Yes! I find even when I know a person well, sometimes I miss tone. Just think how much worse it is when it is someone we don't know well and/or someone whose native tongue is different than ours!

What a terrible way to learn of his passing. I'm sorry for your loss.

A decade ago, when MySpace was still king, I did a research paper on social media and philanthropy. One of the interesting sources I used was the book Linked: How Everything Is Connected to Everything Else and What It Means for Business, Science, and Everyday Life by Albert-Laszlo Barabasi. There is much I have forgotten, but one point he made that stuck with me is that "Six Degrees of Separation" has diminished to 2-3 with the advent of the internet and social media. He posited that number would shrink even further over time, which perhaps it has.

I feel like this is a two-edged sword, like most advancements. I personally am thankful to be able to keep in touch more easily with people I care about, regardless of their geographical location.

I have also found a community of other professionals whom I value on many levels - colleague, sounding board, and in some cases people I would label as "friend."

On the flip side, I am conscious of the fact that it is easy to enter an "echo chamber," where my virtual circle agrees with my opinions and I don't have to substantiate my point of view. I work to enter the lairs of other viewpoints, to keep an open mind, and to enter into civil discourse.

I think this is a great goal. Another "literacy" I work to develop in my teen students is to dive below the surface. It is easy for them to find valid surface information about a topic, and weave it together into a coherent, credible story. However, I struggle to get them to investigate further. They will report (correctly) that "B campaigned for G to happen." However, when asked "Why did B feel it important to campaign for G?" I often get blank stares. I just keep asking questions.

Agreed. So how does the highly polarized US reduce this, and begin to find common ground?

Yes! Curiosity, combined with lively, respectful debate.

Yikes!

I think a lot of that is happening right now with Trump. He is deflecting the American public into checking facts while the bigger issues are quietly being unattended in the background.

"Hyper" is operative. Hyperpartisan, hyperspeed, hyperfocus.

Meliora students, how and why did the Republican Party get founded? What were the initial "planks" in its platform? Summarize and cite your source(s).

Meliora students, who was Stephen Douglas? (We've met him in some of our other reading.) In addition to this act, find another example of legislation he introduced and fought for in Congress. Summarize and cite your source(s). Do not use an example one of your classmates has already used.

Meliora students, what was the case about? Summarize and cite your source(s).

Meliora students, who was Dred Scott? Who was Sanford? Summarize and cite your source(s).

Meliora students, at this time (1854), what treaty(ies) existed between the US government and any Native American tribes that lived within the boundaries of the "Territory of Kansas?" Cite your source(s) of information.

Meliora students, what current-day states are included in this definition of the "Territory of Kansas?"

Meliora students, this clause gave the US government the right to divide the Kansas territory into multiple territories or states. Based on the statements in Sec. 14 of this document, what would each territory/state have the right to do in regards to slavery?

Meliora students, what is this saying? What right(s) did it transfer from the federal government to the states and territories?

Meliora students, this refers to the 1850 Compromise, which is summarized here: https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Compromise1850.html

Meliora students, this refers to the Missouri Compromise, which we will also annotate.

Meliora students, what does this mean? Extra credit to anyone who comes to class with a simple summary of the treaty(ies) in place at this time (1854) with Native Americans.

I saw this recently, where someone had refuted a claim by posting a link to a Snopes critique, and the original poster replied saying she thinks Snopes is tainted.

Social media is accelerating that process; we live in our "echo chambers.". http://n.pr/2G5AqUD

These sound like stories of hope!

In our history class we also looked at how this took place in Chicago. I also had the students annotate (using hypothes.is) [Executive Order 1376 Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements] ( https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/01/30/2017-02095/border-security-and-immigration-enforcement-improvements) as a way for them to critically research and analyze current-day events.

What an awesome idea! I may borrow it!

Yeah, we need to get over ourselves. And, lose our fear of not knowing something. And be willing to actually acknowledge to the students we don't know something!

An excellent question at all levels of education, K-20 and beyond. It's important for students and educators to be able to connect course content to real-world application.

I would love to see this as the norm!

Meliora students, what does MLK mean by "cooling off" and "gradualism?"

Meliora students, are there similar movements going on today? Provide a short response (a sentence or two) and a link to a source that supports your position.

Meliora students, do you agree or disagree with MLK's stance? Do you think violent or peaceful protests are more effective? Provide evidence (link to source(s)) to support your viewpoint.

Meliora students, has this changed? Statistically speaking, how much have the number of (reported) cases changed in the past 45 years? Provide a link to a source.

Meliora students, do you agree with this statement? Is racial equality a prerequisite for American being a great nation? Why?

Meliora students, it has been 45 years since MLK made this statement. How much has the relative wealth of black people improved since then (gap between wealth of blacks and whites)? Write a short answer, and include a link to a source.

And we wonder why some students do better than others on standardized tests? One test for 3.6 million students from a plethora of backgrounds and experiences?

https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=372

Summary writing is a form of synthesis, n'est-ce pas? It requires higher-order cognition. As the summarizing gets better, the ability to synthesize gets better... a never-ending loop of improvement in cognition.

Meliora students, what are the estimated costs to build such a wall?

Meliora students, what are the "Secure Fence Act" and "IIRIRA?" Please provide a short summary of their intent and when they were enacted.

Meliora students, please find sources that detail the incidences and costs of drug- and human-trafficking coming from the southern border of the United States.

Meliora students, how much does the US Federal government spend on aid/assistance to Mexico each year?

Meliora students, what is a "fear determination?"

Meliora students, please find reliable evidence of the costs related to illegal immigration.

Meliora students, what do you think of this? Please find evidence of the veracity (or not) of this statement.

Is there opportunity for peer review of the literature review work?

I like this idea. Question: does it need to be TED format, or could they have more options as to how they present?

Wouldn't it be great if even the most marginalized could end their time with us with a sense of hope?

Do you agree? Why or why not?

What do you think about this? What level of detail is appropriate? How is it different for a short story compared to a novel?

Why should there be a difference between our real and virtual selves?

I consider this a "just-in-time" process. For example, teaching students fractions with no context and no application loses some of them. Teaching them fractions "just-in-time" to plan out a garden plot offers them a tangible, practical reason to understand fractions and is more likely to engage them in the learning.

Interesting assertion. I think something that matters to me will only be in demand if there are enough other people who agree with me and highly value my skills.

I find the forceful physicality of the imagery very memorable.

Is learning the wolf in the fold, or is schooling the wolf? I think learning is magic, and ongoing, and in the bestest of worlds, an absolute delight.

So, if all of this is a fraud, what education (as opposed to school) structure results in truth?

I wonder if any of the rest of you have seen today's NYT article related to this topic?

http://nyti.ms/1RL1RV8

This seems to be a factor in all levels of education. This is a BIG problem, because we require citizens who think and are open to taking risks. It also reminds me that if I tell students I value risk, I need to stand behind that in my reactions.

Love this term. In my ideal world, all curricula would be "living," forever shapeshifting and improving.

Do you realize how queasy that would make many/most PD facilitators?

Love #SilentSunday! Great community builder.

For sure! Who among us has not seen students huddled together over a digital device, where one of them is showing the others how s/he accomplished some spectacular Snapchat result?

Ah, yes, where is Zeega hiding, tellio?

Is this really a word???

I would argue that today's youth are already using social media for exactly this purpose. In many instances within their intimate social groups, to play pranks on each other, etc. Also to make (often unflattering) statements about the adults in their lives.

The "something different" is key. In Walter Isaacson's book The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution, he argues that many innovations are merely tweaks of work done by others, and that most innovations are not the work of one person, but several working together who each have different skills/strengths.

All characteristics of inquiry/project-based methodologies.

I'm interpreting this to mean they have a variety of (unconnected) courses, plus their outside lives. Have there been any discussions within the university about doing inter/multi-disciplinary courses, to create connections?

I haven't used ThingLink's video annotation, so thanks for inspiring me to try it. Do you have a sense for how many of the students: 1) watched the video; 2) clicked on the blue tags?

I like that you are using this article to launch the topic, provide low- (no-?) stakes practice, and to invite the students into the conversation.