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FAMILY="SANSSERIF">Contact: Rio Bauce {Willard2008@aol.com}<BR><BR>Hi All
Parents-<BR><BR>We were very happy with the amazing response we received from
parents willing to coach Berkeley High's first ever World Affairs Challenge
Team. We had our first meeting on Wednesday and although we posted flyers and
put in an announcement, the turnout was not too great. So I am passing along to
you information on the World Affairs Challenge and if your son or daughter is
interested, you could have them contact me by calling 841-5420 (ask for Rio) or
emailing me above.<BR><BR>Below is the information: <BR></FONT><FONT face=Geneva
size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR></FONT><FONT face="New York" FAMILY="SERIF"><B>How
Does It Work?</B></FONT><FONT face="New York" FAMILY="SERIF"><BR>Students spend
up to twelve weeks preparing a formal presentation on an international topic
related to the annual theme, with administrative and research support provided
by Project Spera. The theme for the 2005 Challenge is</FONT><FONT
face="New York" FAMILY="SERIF"><B> "World Energy: Empowering the
Future"</B></FONT><FONT face="New York" FAMILY="SERIF"> The end of the research
process culminates with the World Affairs Challenge event. During the Challenge,
students compete in four different events that test their knowledge, their
presentation skills, and their ability to work collaboratively. Teachers serve
primarily as coaches, helping students prepare for the day. Often teachers
incorporate the Challenge topic into course curriculum, using materials
developed and provided by CTIR.</FONT><FONT face="New York" color=#0000ff
FAMILY="SERIF"><B><A
href="http://www.projectspera.org/programs/wac--resources.htm">
</A></B></FONT><FONT face="New York" color=#000000
FAMILY="SERIF"><BR><BR>Developed in 1991 at the University of Denver’s Center
for Teaching International Relations, the World Affairs Challenge is now
expanding across the country.</FONT><FONT face="New York" color=#000000
FAMILY="SERIF"><BR></FONT><FONT face="New York" color=#000000
FAMILY="SERIF"><B><BR>What Are The Four Elements?</B></FONT><FONT
face="New York" color=#000000 FAMILY="SERIF"><BR>
• The Formal Presentation: Each team has 15 minutes to
present its extensive research and analysis, to identify the major policy issues
raised, and to propose reasonable solutions. Presentations often take the form
of creative skits or simulations as students choose how they can best
communicate their understanding of the topic's complexities. Community members
judge the Presentations based on content, creativity, and
organization.<BR><BR> • A Global
Awareness Quiz: This short, multiple-choice assessment tests students' knowledge
of global geography, world events, and aspects of the annual theme. The Quiz
heightens the sense of competition and is scored individually as well as
averaged for the team.<BR><BR> •
The Collaborative Question: For this event, students are organized into new
teams with peers from other schools. Participants are presented with a
real-world scenario, including support materials and data, for which they have
about 30 minutes to come to consensus on a response. After this preparation
time, judges join the teams to hear student ideas and engage in substantive
dialogue with them regarding the scenario.<BR><BR>
• The Discovery Poster: The Poster is a visual
representation of each team's Formal Presentation. This component allows
students to see each other's research, analysis, and findings. Judges score the
posters based on their creativity and content.<BR><BR><BR>Through these four
diverse elements, the World Affairs Challenge allows students with a variety of
skills and backgrounds to come together as representatives of their schools
while increasing their awareness of fundamental issues facing the global
community.</FONT><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR><BR>For
more information, visit http://www.projectspera.org.<BR><BR>Thank
you.</FONT><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR></FONT><FONT
face=Geneva color=#000000 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR>
<P><FONT size=2>______________________________<BR>Janet Huseby and Kathryn Capps
are the facilitators of the etree; please direct any questions or concerns to
them at <bhs-owner@idiom.com><BR><BR>To subscribe to the etree, write
bhs-request@idiom.com with one word only in the subject line: subscribe.<BR>To
unsubscribe, write bhs-request@idiom.com with one word only in the subject line:
unsubscribe.<BR> </FONT> </P><BR></FONT><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000
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