RJ Stangherlin

Keystone Technology Integrator and STAR Discovery Educator

This site is for Mrs. Stangherlin's classes at Salisbury High School.

Changing the World, One Teenager at a Time

NOTE: I cross-posted this entry to my new blog, Changing Connections.

Global humanitarian outreach.  Interscholastic collaboration.  Conflict resolution.  Multidisciplinary.  Standards-based learning.  Position papers.  Resolution writing, speaking, listening. Project-driven.  Real-life / life-long learning.  Teacher as facilitator.  Students controlling learning.  Language application that makes sense in crisis simulation.  Parliamentary procedure.  Passage of motions.  Inquiry-based learning.  Un/moderated caucuses.  Speakers’ list.  Essential Questions seeking Essential Global Answers.  Debate and closure.  Dividing the question.  Un/friendly Amendments.  Approval of amendments.  Passage of resolutions.  Engagement.  21st century topics with 21st century tools. 

Thirty-eight Salisbury students attend Kutztown University.  They join 13 other school districts on SATURDAY, January 18, from 8:30—4:30.  To get here, they worked with their advisor, Miss Brinson, every Friday morning before school, and then put in hours of preparation at home. 

What is it that drives them?  A desire to change the world through KU Model United Nations Conference.  What makes this experience unique?  KUMUNC gives high school students the opportunity to engage in dealing with world issues to try to develop unified global solutions, changing the world, one teenager at a time.  Authentic learning through collaboration.  A chance to move beyond what if you could change history to being the change agents.

What does the day look like? 

Students representing 66 different nations research and engage in point / counterpoint debates expressed through the perspective of the countries they are representing.  Students write impromptu resolutions and then politic and/or compromise to convince other nations to support their resolutions.  Delegates sit on one of four different committees throughout the day, including: General Assembly on AIDS and HIV, Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Criminal Prevention and Criminal Justice, and Crisis Simulation: Africa Hopes.  In each committee room, arguments move quickly, since delegates are restricted to a time limit. Consequently, teams representing countries need to forge alliances so they can yield time to the countries aligned with their proposals, giving them more time to press solutions forward.  The goal is to persuade the entire committee that your country’s resolutions should be adopted. 

We’ve saved the best for last!

In GA AIDS, Sean and Garred, representing Korea, won Best Position Paper.

Matt and Luke won the award for Distinguished Delegation for the Committee on Human Rights.

The entire delegation won the award for Distinguished Delegation.  Accepting for our delegation are Lindsey, Lauren, and Dan.
It felt like winning the Oscar for Best Picture with each of these awards.  We are so proud of our students!

If you are looking for examples of 21st century learning, Model UN completely and utterly embraces it.

It’s Not Too Late for a Second Life Experience

NOTE: I cross-posted this entry in the PA DEN Blog.

A year ago fellow Star Discovery Educator Jennifer Brinson and I joined Jennifer Dorman in a “Making History Come Alive” issue of the Discovery Educators Resource Guide. Our article’s focus was What If You Could Change History? This time I have a different sales pitch: Want to Make History? That’s right. Join the Discovery Educator Network’s inaugural foray into Second Life with the webinar Get a Life, A Second Life, That Is.

WHEN? Tuesday, January 15th at 4 p.m. SLT (that would be 7 p.m. EST). I apologize for the last minute posting, but it is never too late to get a Second Life.

WHAT? A webinar aimed at educators who would like to learn more about Second Life and how this virtual world can contribute to your PLN (Personal/Professional Learning Network). The webinar will cover the basics of Second Life (how to create an account) and opportunities that abound for educators in-world.

WHY? Because SL is just the most amazing in-world 3-D virtual reality experience out there. Because it has unlimited educational applications.

WHO? Veteran SLers are definitely welcome, but this webinar will cover the basics. For the students who attended the MAGPI videoconference on Gaming and Virtual Reality with me after school about a month ago, you might want to register for this webinar.  Any interested students, faculty, and/or administrators are welcome to join us. 

We hope to see many of you in-world after the webinar, so I STRONGLY suggest that IF you THINK you MIGHT want to see what Second Life is all about, please download the client (FREE) and sign up (also FREE) PRIOR to January 15th. (By my math, you have 23 hours left before life as you know it changes forever). You’ll find all the information for this venture in the Google Groups in the ^Files^ section (only STAR DEs have access upon approval). The document is called ‘Creating an Account in SL’. And of course, if you have ANY questions about downloading the client and signing up, please let me know and I’ll guide you along.

You can register for the WebEx HERE.