Ideas and Advice from Teachers
Interview: Ken Cox
Belpre High School, Belpre, Ohio
Government
E-mail: bc_kcox@seovec.org
What is the first thing you do to prepare for a summit?
The first thing I do to prepare for a summit is to try to review the Orientation Guide and the Student Handbook, and the Guide to Student Activities provided by the ABA. I believe that if a teacher has a good grasp of this material it will enable them to keep up with the program without any problem.
How much time do you spend planning for the summit before it begins? How much time do you spend per week during the summit (class time and planning time)?
In planning for the summit I will typically spend 12-15 hours in organizing the activities and working them into my government class curriculum. Once the summit has begun I will spend 2-5 hours a week in planning organizing class activities and evaluating them. Students will typically spend from 2-5 class periods per week depending on the activity and how responsive other schools are.
How do you integrate the summit topic and curriculum into your course?
I do integrate the summit topic into my core curriculum. At the very least it is always going to relate to our lengthy study of the Constitution.
Does teaching the summit present particular challenges in a government class?
Teaching the summit does present some challenges in trying to maintain as much of the regular curriculum as possible. My students in the summit class do not cover as much as the students in my other classes. However, I simply regard this as a trade-off. The students in the summit class are provided a learning experience that is different, challenging and rewarding.
Does the summit help you meet applicable standards?
The summit clearly provides the opportunity to meet state and national standards.
What is your biggest challenge in the summit, and how have you addressed it?
The biggest challenge in the summit is time. To effectively participate in the summit a teacher must allot considerable time and effort to the project. That means teacher time outside of class as well as student time in class. For some teachers the time commitment required may seem overwhelming. However, it is no greater time commitment than it would be for a teacher to prepare a unit/lessons for any other class. In fact, I would suggest that it may even be easier given the quality and amount of activities provided by the ABA. I have been very fortunate to have been given the flexibility to commit as much time as I need to the summit by my principal.
I also had some challenges in accessing the technology lab at my school. I have resolved that by convincing the principal and board to put in my own technology lab of 15-20 computers, which is attached to my classroom (instead of buying me textbooks this year). This was the result of a year's worth of lobbying on my part with the administration and board. Certainly, my participation in the summit assisted in winning that argument.
Do you have any tips for teachers thinking about participating in the summit in 2007?
For new teachers participating in the summit in 2007, my first advice would be to thoroughly review the Orientation Guide and Student Handbook. If you are thinking of applying, take a look at the Orientation Guide and Student Handbook from last year so you get a sense of what is involved. Secondly, I would advise that you try to work with your principal to obtain the license to commit the time away from the regular class curriculum when necessary. Thirdly, I would advise that you make certain that you have access to computers on an as-needed basis. One of my other recommendations would be that a participating teacher, depending on his/her own technological skill, try to make certain that there are one or two students in the class who are technologically proficient. I would also suggest that teachers use a posting rubric to evaluate student performances on internet activity. Finally, I would suggest that new teachers ask questions of Michelle and the others at the ABA, or (even better) of experienced NOYS teachers.
