Critical and Creative Thinking

Course Description

In this class, you will be engaged in activities that allow you to explore your creativity while thinking critically.  You will complete a variety of projects using both your imagination and reasoning skills.  Sample activities include creating and presenting original performances on a variety of topics; designing and building systems, objects, and characters; and redesigning items ergonomically.  You will also participate in debates and other group and class activities. The end goal is to become a better problem solver and a more adventurous thinker. 

Course Instructors

You will be team taught by teachers from different fields (humanities and science) to better appeal to your multiple intelligences.  You will rotate between the two teachers depending on the activity.  Although you will be assigned to one teacher on your schedule, either teacher may assess your learning.

Supplies Needed for this Class

1. a composition book
2. a binder
3. possible project supplies*

*If you choose a complex project and you want to use more than the average classroom provided for you, then you must purchase them on your own in a timely fashion.  With the teacher’s consent, you may bring certain hand tools to class.

To be successful in this class…

You must be a motivated thinker who perseveres when challenges become difficult.     

Class Expectations and Responsibilities

1. You are expected to create a Nicenet.org account.  Go the site, create your own account, and complete the first assignment.  To do this, you will need the following information:

Class Name:

Class Key:

1. You are expected to play selected videogames weekly and to log your strategies (those that worked and those that didn’t) and your results.  Afterwards, you must explain what you learned from the process.  Since many of these games are found on the Internet, it is strongly recommended that you have a high speed connection.   If you do not have a high speed connection, you may want to stay after school to complete your assignments.    
2. You are expected to participate in class competitions with randomly created groups.
3. You are expected to work on a variety projects.  When working on projects, you are expected to keep a daily log, recording your progress and contributions.  If you are absent, you must mark that on the log and later show how you made up the work on your own time.
4. You are expected to prepare for class discussion either by reading given materials or by researching a topic.  The class discussion/debate rubric is attached.
5. You are expected to participate in all game strategies days and to participate in all logic activities.
6. You are expected to complete timed-writing in preparation for the SAT, as is required in all Charter classes.
7. You are expected to keep a professional quality lab notebook and class portfolio that will count as part of your course final.

Binder and Notebook Requirements

1. Please divide your binder into the following four categories: daily work log, preparations for class discussion, activity sheets and notes, and timed-writing and personal reflections.  You must have a completed notebook for the class final.
2. In your composition notebook, please write down data collected from playing video games, working on group competitions, and working on group projects.  You must write all data in blue or black ink. 

The Rules of the Class

1. Be prepared and punctual.  This means you should turn in your assignments by the deadlines, bring all materials to class, and arrive to class on time.
2. Be respectful.  You should be respectful of all classmates and their property and the teacher and his or her property.
3. Turn in only your work.  If you are caught plagiarizing, you will receive a zero for the assignment and will be referred to the discipline office. 
4. Your teachers will not write you a letter of recommendation if you are caught cheating.

 Classroom Policies

1. Homework is not accepted late unless there is an emergency situation.  If a situation occurs, the student is responsible for seeing the teacher as soon as possible. 
2. If you are going away on a scheduled vacation, you must inform your teachers a week in advance.  Your teachers are not responsible for preparing work for you on short notice.
3. If you are absent, you should obtain the notes and missed assignments from a classmate. 
4. Late projects receive half credit only.

 Teacher contact information

For Mrs. Hollstein…

Email: jhollstein@charterschool.org

School phone number: 651-2727 ext. 324

 For Dr. Fleetwood…

Email: tfleetwood@charterschool.org

School phone number: 651-2727 ext. 321

Peer Contact Information

Write down the names, numbers, and emails of any two classmates.  You are responsible for contacting these people to determine any missed work.

Name______________________________ email__________________________

Cell# ______________________________

home #________________________ 

Name______________________________ email__________________________

 Cell# ______________________________

home #________________________

 

Critical and Creative Thinking                                         Listening and Sharing : Class Discussion Rubric Teachers Names: Mrs. Hollstein, Dr. FleetwoodStudent Name:     ________________________________________

 

CATEGORY	5	4	3	0
Participates Willingly	Student routinely volunteers answers to questions and willingly tries to answer questions s/he is asked.	Student occasionally volunteers answers to questions and willingly tries to answer questions s/he is asked.	Student volunteers once or twice and willingly tries to all questions s/he is asked.	Student does not volunteer answers.
Comprehends Concept/Topic	Student seems to understand entire concept/topic and accurately discusses points.	Student seems to understand most of the concept/topic and accurately discusses points.	Student understands some parts of the concept/topic and accurately discusses points.	Student has trouble understanding or remembering most of the concepts/topics.
Prepared for Discussion	Student has come prepared, researching the topic, creating questions, and reading materials. If questions have been assigned, all are answered with explanations.	Student has come mostly prepared, but the research is not as strong or the questions created are not as engaging. If questions have been assigned, one or two have been left blank OR all of the questions have surface answers.	Student has come partially prepared for the discussion, reading some of the materials, creating a few questions, or researching a few sites or articles. If questions have been assigned, they have not been completed.	Student has not prepared for the class discussion
Respects Others	Student listens quietly, does not interrupt, and stays in assigned place without distracting fidgeting.  When debating with another classmate, all statements, body language, and responses were respectful and were in appropriate language.	Student listens quietly and does not interrupt. Moves a couple of times, but does not distract others.  When debating with another classmate, statements and responses were respectful and used appropriate language, but once or twice body language was not.	Student interrupts once or twice, but comments are relevant. Stays in assigned place without distracting movements.  When debating with another classmate, most statements and responses were respectful and in appropriate language, but there was one sarcastic remark.	Student interrupts often by whispering, making comments or noises that distract others OR moves around in ways that distract others. When debating with another classmate, statements, responses and/or body language were consistently not respectful.
Use of Facts/Statistics and the quality of information	Every major point was well supported with several relevant facts, statistics and/or examples  AND all information presented in the debate was clear, accurate and thorough	Every major point was adequately supported with relevant facts, statistics and/or examples AND most information presented in the debate was clear, accurate and thorough.	Every major point was supported with facts, statistics and/or examples, but the relevance of some was questionable AND/OR Most information presented in the debate was clear and accurate, but was not usually thorough.	Every point was not supported OR information had several inaccuracies OR was usually not clear.

 

Total _____/25

 

Contract and Contact Information

 

I understand the rules, policies, and expectations of this classroom and I fully understand the consequences of plagiarizing or fabricating information.

 

_____________________________________

 Student Signature

 

I understand the rules, policies, and expectations for my child’s class.

 

______________________________________

Parent Signature

 

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Student Contact information

 Student Name ___________________________________

 Student Email ____________________________________

 Student Phone Number ____________________________

 Parent Contact Information

 Parent(s) Name___________________________________

 Parent Email _____________________________________

 Daytime Phone Number ____________________________