Overcrowded Schools in NYC

Ms. Marino

amarino17@schools.nyc.gov

9th Grade ELA students at John Dewey High School

INTRODUCTION:

Welcome students! In this web quest, you will explore the social issue of overcrowded schools in New York City (NYC). Overcrowded schools present various challenges for students, teachers, and administrators, affecting the quality of education and overall learning environment. Your task is to investigate the causes and effects of overcrowded schools, analyze potential solutions, and propose actionable steps to address this issue.

TASK:

Your task is to create a comprehensive plan to tackle the problem of overcrowded schools in NYC. Your plan should include:

1. Identifying the causes of overcrowding in NYC schools.

2. Exploring the effects of overcrowded schools on students, teachers, and learning environment.

3. Researching potential solutions and initiatives to alleviate overcrowding.

4. Developing a proposal outlining actionable steps to address the issue.

Objectives	Student Product
● Identify the causes and effects of overcrowding in NYC schools. ● Analyze potential solutions to alleviate overcrowding. ● Develop a comprehensive proposal to address the issue of overcrowded schools.	● Google Slides presentation outlining research findings and proposal.
Timeframe
● Research and Group Discussion: 2 days ● Google Slides Presentation Development: 3 days

PROCESS

Students will work in small groups of 3-4 to conduct research and collaborate on the Google Slides presentation.

Instructions:

1. In your group, you will begin to research the causes, effects, and solutions for overcrowded schools in NYC.

2. Each group will be assigned a specific article to read and discuss:

a. Group A: Despite new law to reduce class size, 300K students in oversized classrooms: UFT

b. Group B: School Crowding in New York City: Progress, Problems and Projections

c. Group C: Parents, teachers protest overcrowded classrooms across New York City

d. Group D: Crowded NYC schools experiment with new schedules, spaces and furniture arrangements to keep 3 feet of distance

e. Group E: Report: More than 300K NYC students are in overcrowded classrooms

3. While reading your given resource, use two-column notes to keep track of big ideas and key details related to the topic. Compile your research notes and prepare to share findings with the class.

4. Group Discussion: After you read, discussed, and compiled notes for your given article, the groups will be rotated to provide an opportunity for further discussion and diverse perspectives on overcrowding in NYC schools. In your new group, discuss the following questions:

a. What were three takeaways from your article?

b.  According to your article, what were the causes, effects, and solutions for overcrowding in NYC schools?

c. What were common themes across the articles?

5. Google Slides Presentation Development: Reconvene in original groups and outline the structure of the Google Slides presentation. Divide tasks for creating slides and adding content among group members, ensuring each aspect of overcrowding is covered.

6. For further research, students will interview a teacher, student, or administrator on their own time to collect more data. They may also find more credible sources to use for their research and presentation.

EVALUATION

Criteria	Excellent (4)	Good (3)	Fair (2)	Needs Improvement (1)
Depth of Research	Thoroughly researched causes, effects, and solutions, with comprehensive understanding.	Researched causes, effects, and solutions, demonstrating good understanding.	Partially researched causes, effects, and solutions, with limited understanding.	Little to no research conducted, lacking understanding of causes, effects, and solutions.
Creativity and Feasibility	Proposed solutions are innovative, practical, and supported by evidence.	Proposed solutions are practical and supported by evidence.	Proposed solutions lack creativity or feasibility.	Proposed solutions are not feasible or unsupported by evidence.
Clarity and Coherence of Presentation	Presentation is well-organized, coherent, and effectively communicates ideas.	Presentation is organized, coherent, and communicates ideas clearly.	Presentation lacks organization or coherence, making it difficult to follow.	Presentation is disorganized and lacks clarity, making it difficult to understand.
Engagement and Collaboration	Actively engaged in group discussions and collaborated effectively with group members.	Engaged in group discussions and collaborated with group members.	Participated minimally in group discussions and collaboration.	Did not engage in group discussions or collaboration.

CONCLUSION

Reflect on what you have learned throughout this PPA research project. Consider the impact of overcrowded schools on students, teachers, and the learning environment. How do you envision your proposed solutions making a difference? Take this opportunity to connect your learning to real-world issues and extend your thinking by brainstorming additional ways to address overcrowding in NYC schools.

By completing this web quest and creating a Google Slides presentation, you have not only gained a deeper understanding of the challenges of overcrowded schools in NYC but also developed critical thinking, research, and presentation skills essential for addressing complex social issues. Your proposed plan has the potential to create positive change and improve educational outcomes for future generations. Keep exploring and advocating for meaningful solutions in your community!

STANDARDS:

● 9-10W6: Conduct research to answer questions, including self-generated questions, or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate. Synthesize multiple sources, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

● 9-10W7: Gather relevant information from multiple sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively

● RH7: Integrate and evaluate visual and technical information (e.g., in research data, charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.