author: Kathryn Frech
SCCHS Librarian
mailto:kfrech.syrdiocese.org
As with too many other schools around the nation, Seton Catholic Central has had some situations with students using social networking tools such as texting, email, and Facebook to mentally and emotionally harass other students. Cyberbullying is an increasing problem both locally and nationally; it can lead to stress, drug use, and even suicide. This class has been assigned the task of investigating the problem of cyberbullying in our school and proposing policies to deal with it.
For this project, you will create a presentation for the School Board describing the problem of cyberbullying at our school and proposing a policy which could be implemented to deal with the problem. Your presentation will consist of a multimedia slideshow and talk of five to ten minutes in length plus a handout summarizing the issue and proposed policy. This project will count as two test grades.
Working in pairs (assigned in class), you will use the 6-step Public Policy format which we learned, completing the worksheet for each step. When you have completed the worksheets, you will use them as the basis of the outline upon which you build your slideshow.
The PPA Steps:
http://www2.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/ppaqe.html
The Slideshow:
As with other multimedia slideshows you have done,
the slideshow may be done on PowerPoint, Impress, Prezi, or any other slideshow
program with which you are comfortable. It must include a minimum of 10 slides.
Your talk and slides should complement each other - neither is complete without
the other. Each member of the team should be ready to present half of the
information; decide between yourselves who will go first and who second. Both of
you should be ready to answer questions about the presentation and the research
that went into it! The slideshow must include:
The Handout:
The handout shall be a one-page information sheet for
your audience summarizing your research and findings. Use the Six Steps of the
PPA to form an outline for this sheet, especially concentrating on the
information from Steps 1, 3, and 6. In paragraph form, with proper grammar and
complete sentences, your handout should briefly but clearly describe problem you
are addressing (cyberbullying) and your proposed policy.
Here are some suggested resources you may use for this project. You must use at least 3 sources. Sources outside this list are acceptable if approved in advance by the teacher.
You will be evaluated on the following:
-- Six worksheets (30% of
grade)
-- One slideshow and accompanying talk (60% of grade)
-- Handout
(10% of grade)
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fully completed with thorough and detailed answers to each question. | Fully completed with an answer to each question. | Partly completed with incomplete answers to some questions. | Partly completed with incomplete answers to all questions. | Not turned in. |
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data | Information is well-detailed, credible, and relevant. | Information is detailed, credible, and relevant with minor gaps or inconsistencies. | Information is general, mostly credible, somewhat relevant with major gaps or inconsistencies. | Information is general, somewhat suspect, of dubious relevance. | Information is confused, suspect, and irrelevant. |
| Proposed Solution | Proposes a plausible and effective policy. | Proposes a possible policy with a few issues which hinder effectiveness. | Proposes a questionable policy with limited effectiveness. | Proposes an incoherent policy. | No policy proposed. |
| Citation | All sources are properly cited with no formatting errors. | All sources are properly cited with some minor formatting errors. | All sources are cited but are not in proper format or some sources are not cited. | Several sources are not cited or are referred to only briefly. | No citations at all. |
| Presentation | Makes good eye contact with audience, projects well and enunciates clearly, uses gestures and emphasis effectively. | Makes good eye contact with audience, projects well and usually enunciates clearly, uses gestures and emphasis. | Makes eye contact with audience, can usually be heard and understood, uses a few gestures and emphases. | Makes sparse eye contact, difficult to hear or understood, does not use gestures. | Cannot be heard or understood. |
| Appearance | Well-structured layout with high quality and appropriate graphics and effects which enhance the presentation message. | Structured layout with decent graphics and effects which generally fit the theme. | Some structural elements are used but overall layout is cluttered or distracting. Graphics and effects may be of inferior quality or inconsistent theme. | Cluttered, confusing, and hard to read with little or no attempt at consistent structure. Graphics and effects are of poor quality and unrelated to the information presented. | Poor design choices render slides unreadable. Poor quality graphics and effects are unrelated to the topic, or entirely nonexistent. |
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | Clearly and cogently describes problem and proposed policy. | Clearly describes problem and proposed policy. | Briefly summarizes problem and proposed policy. | Briefly and incompletely summarizes problem and proposed policy. | Not turned in. |
| Mechanics | No errors in grammar and usage. | Few errors in grammar and usage. | Several errors in grammar and usage. | Many errors in grammar and usage. | Not turned in. |
When all presentations have been concluded, we will have a class discussion (remembering to use Positive Statements) and vote to decide which proposed policy is the 'best'. Remember that 'best' must be something that we can actually implement at SCC. This policy (or policies, in case of a tie) will be presented to the Principal's Administrative Team for possible inclusion in the next School Board meeting.
In the process of completing this PPA Web quest, you have learned about the causes and affects of cyberbullying. Like other forms of bullying, cyberbullying affects the victims, the bullies, and the community in various ways, including the academic, social, and emotional. As a Public Policy Analyst, you have identified the causes of the problem, provided evidence, researched the current policies, and created an informational presentation. As you have learned, school policies must be regularly re-evaluated for needed adjustments in light new technologies and old problems. Let what you learned here make a difference at school and throughout your life.
English Language
Arts
- Standard 1: Students will read, write, listen and speak for
information and understanding.
- Standard 3: Students will read, write,
listen and speak for critical analysis and evaluation.
Health
- Standard
2: Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and
maintain a safe and healthy environment.
Mathematics, Science, and
Technology Education
- Standard 2: Students will access, generate,
process and transfer information using appropriate
technologies.