My artifact is a two session lesson about Maya civilization for US/Mexico Border: Beyond and Before the Border. This lesson was very well received by past students in this course and a basic course of Latin American studies both for the fascinating content as well as the way the learned – in groups. So why make changes? During the course of our workshop, I realized that my “telegraphic” style of writing was not the best means of communicating with my students, and even less so, on-line.
The fact is that this style is connected in part to my philosophy of teaching/learning – that the student should make an effort to understand, interpret, think. I also like to give my students a lot of freedom in choosing, reading and expressing their ideas. The explicitness recommended by some runs counter to my ideas of intellectual maturity or maturing. Now I have taken a step back and looked at my presentation and see that it does not communicate what I wish it to with clarity. To this end, I am reworking the instructions to this lesson so the students will understand what I am looking for.
I have rewritten the instructions putting in more details, examples, deadlines while the assignment itself remains mainly the same. I was inspired and influenced by some of my colleagues posts.
MAYA CIVILIZATION
Part 1
I have posted a number of articles about Maya civilization : Math, Writing, Astronomy/Calendar in Course Documents.
With your group, decide on each member choosing one topic which is of interest to them: Maya math, hierographyics (writing system), astronomy/calendar. You will read the articles I have posted (there is no need for further research). You will each become the “specialist” in that subject and get ready to teach the other members of your group about your topic. For example, if you are the Maya math specialist you will be responsible for not only teaching about the numeral system of the Maya but also making certain that each member of the group has understood and learned from you. It’s up to each group how you communicate by text, telephone, email or another platform.
This is an important intellectual exercise in distinguishing between what is important and what are details; that is what you should be focused on. This is something you can discuss together and arrive at conclusions,
Together the group will produce a short reflection of 100 to 150 words on how your group activity went. Did everyone cooperate? Were there problems communicating your information to the other members of the group? How did you feel about teaching? Good points? Frustrations? What skills do you need to improve in relation to collaborative learning? Any other comments about this exercise? Within the document , identify yourselves; for example, “I never taught a group before, it was awesome, to all of a sudden become the expert on math. I think, next time, I’d prepare more examples.” Jason Note: this is a reflection of your process of group teaching and learning, please do not include any information about the Maya achievements.
PLEASE, INCLUDE NAME OF YOUR GROUP IN THE TITLE
This reflection will be Assignment 2 on Discussion Board. It will be due on Weds.Feb 9. If you have any special or delicate situation which arises from the group work, please communicate it to me privately by email ([email protected])
Part 2
In the first part of our Thursday, Feb 10 class, there will be time to discuss the different Maya achievements as well as to ask questions.
In the second part of class, I will present the situation of many Maya communities today, and their need to immigrate in order to survive.
Write a paragraph which will be submitted in “Assignments by midnight Monday, Feb 14.. Using your imagination, write a couple of sentences which answer the questions 1.How is it possible that the Maya civilization which was so dynamic and had made such strides in intellectual achievement could fall into such bad circumstances? Here is a sample answer from my imagination: They were attacked and dominated by creatures from outer space. You can let your imagination carry you where it will . . . PLEASE: Do not research this; just enjoy your own invention.
Then write a couple of sentences in response to: What do you think you need to learn, in order to understand their present situation? What information/ facts are you lacking to grasp the reality of the situation of contemporary Maya communities.
(This course objective of understanding the present in light of the past).
MATERIALS:
Mayan Astronomy
http://www.starteachastronomy.com/mayan.html
An excellent website on Mayan astronomy
https://maya.nmai.si.edu/sites/default/files/resources/The%20Maya%20Calendar%20System.pdf
This is excellent but after a couple of pages there are so. me blank pages and you need to scroll down to find the rest of the article.
Maya math
hhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybvb7oy_WV0
hhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAOm-i2ayWQ
hhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAOm-i2ayWQ
MAYA WRITING
http://www.famsi.org/mayawriting/index.html
https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/maya/mmc01eng.html (this has articles on math, calendar, writing and more about Mayan civilization