Blog Post/Unit Plan

Technology has definitely changed the way I read and write. I can remember back in 2nd grade going to the library and looking at stacks upon stacks of books and being terrified to go in there. I always said to myself, "I hate reading, why would I want to go in there?" However, through increasing technological advances (internet, ipods, cell phones, etc.) there really is no limit to the amount of information I can acquire in my lifetime; and this does not require me to go to the library everyday either, thank God. In a way, technology has tricked me into reading. Almost everyday I am reading some kind of article online, either for a class or for amusement. However, because I am at my computer in the comfort of my own home, I do not feel that stressful feeling anymore when I begin to read something. Also, through the use of searc engines like yahoo and google, if anything pops into my head that I am curious about, I can instantly find out about it, usually finding numerous results on any topic.

In regards to the Unit Plan, Cliff and I are working on a Unit Plan on U.S. Imperialism. Although Cliff is a History major and I am a Health and PE major, we both decided it would be better to do just a History Unit Plan. So far we have come up with some good essential questions in our opinion: Why do some countries feel the need to conquer lands outside their borders? Why do they think it is important to their success? What is more important to you, the power of your country or the treatment of people around the world? From these questios we have begun to develop lessons and activities to do from day to day, culminating in a final assessment of a trial of the Presidents. Basically, the Presidents during the push for Imperialism (1890-1920) will be put on trial for involvement in foreign affairs. Everyone in the class will have a role, either as the judge, jury members, attorneys, witnesses, or one of the four Presidents. More ideas are still to come...