Competencies in English Ms. Halbrooks

1. Competencies in English Ms. Halbrooks

2. There is only one requirement for admittance into this class: you needed to fail your last English class. This class is in place of retaking an entire semester of English. Instead you’re proving you’re competent so you can be reinstated into the next English course required on your schedule. What is a competency course?

3. This course covers reading, writing, public speaking, grammar, and vocabulary –all the main subdivisions of English. It is pass/fail. This means partial work (65%) is not acceptable. It’s done until it’s done correctly or “competently.” There are six assignments. When you’re done the assignments and I’ve signed off on them, you’re done with the course even if the semester isn’t over. What is a competency Course Cont.?

4. You could be done with this course in as little as four weeks if you worked in and out of class. When you’re done with this course, you’re scheduled to have a full block study. What does that mean?

5. You will be stuck in this course until you can pass it. What if I fail this course?

6. You have 45 minutes of class time to work on the projects. You must use this time to work. I can see what you’re doing on your computer through my computer. If you’re not doing my work in class, you’ll stay after school to make up the time. This is a skinny

7. Do the work and so you can get out! What is the best approach to this class?

8. I have put together a sample assignment for you. What are we doing in this class?

9. The Six assignments

10. The six assignments

11. Your first assignment involves watching a TED talk. TED stands for Technical Education and Design. They are just lectures by notable people about MANY MANY different things. I did the sample project on a random topic-crows. Here is a sample TED talk on crows. First, a ted talk

12. TED

13. The Intelligent Crow

14. Impression we have of the crow

15. 1. The intelligences human beings and crows share. 2. How our shared intelligences can work together to form a partnership. 3. How the crow and his intelligence has become such a wonder, it is expressing itself in poetry and fiction. What will I be discussing?

16. 1. The intelligences human beings and crows share.

17. Uniquely Human Intelligences • Humans are the only animals that adapt to their environment. • Humans are the only animals that socialize in a complex way. • Humans are the only animals that can use and make tools.

18. Humans are NOT the only animals that socialize in a complex way. • According to researcher John Roach, the crow can function independently, in a family unit, a small group, or a large flock. • They can also discuss situations and problem solve as a group. • They can develop dialects distinct from family to family so they can communicate without other crows knowing what they’re scheming.

19. They can scheme • John Roach also found that crows can thoughtfully manipulate each other and other animals. • This shows they would prefer to think critically through something than fight it out with another bird.

20. Humans are NOT the only animals that adapt to their environment. • Humans change and alter the environment very quickly and drastically. • This often forces species to move or it kills them. • Crows not only adapt, but they have flourished.

21. The Versatile crow • Crows are now on every continent. • They have been found in every environment from the country, the city, the suburb, the dump, the dessert, the forest, even the highway.

22. Consequently • This has led scientists to believe that crows are highly intelligent because they are expressing intelligences formally believed unique to humans.

23. Humans are NOT the only animals that can use and make tools. • Crows, in a lab test, were given: • A stick • An tree branch • A metal wire

25. So, Crows are intelligent

26. 2. How our shared intelligences can work together to form a partnership.

27. Joshua Klein and his vending machine • Joshua Klein saw an opportunity for crows and humans work together in a partnership • He believed this partnership could have excellent benefits on a larger scale if harnessed

28. 3. How the crow and his intelligence has become such a wonder, it is expressing itself in poetry and fiction.

29. There are poems written about animal intelligences and how intelligent animals interact with humans There is a short story entitled “Seventeen Crows” that speaks to the intelligence of the crow to the point of creepiness. And I wrote a short story regarding crows and how smart they are entitled, “That Damn Crow.” The fascination with the crow is not restricted to scientists alone

30. So, crows are smart, this can be mutually beneficial, and everyone is fascinated with them. • Their reputation as a stupid nuisance needs to change; that comes with understanding. • The result of understanding crows and partnering with them could change the world since crows are everywhere. So what?

31. Thank you! Any questions?

32. All of your assignments are posted on my website. I will not give you any handouts. If you need copies, go online and get them. HalbrooksClassroomOnline.com Where do I get my assignments?

33. Print out assignment number one on my website. Follow the steps! What do I do now?