Hello everyone, I teach an undergraduate Social Foundations of Education
course at Georgia State University, and my students are diverse. I encourage
them to explore their cultural backgrounds with the following geneology
project. It is quite successful, and the students say they learn a lot about
their heritage and identities. Hope it helps!


*Geneology Project *

**EPSF 2010 is a course in Social Foundations of Education.  This project
compels you to explore your own *social foundations*.

For this assignment, students will create an educational genealogy.  In a
creative format of your choosing, present the educational history of your
family, as far back and as wide as you are able and that you determine that
is relevant for you. This representation format may be as elaborate or
simple as you choose. *In addition to the creative representation of your
history, write a reflective statement (8 - 10 pages) on the significance of
your educational genealogy as it relates to your practice as a teacher.  A
specific format is expected for this paper – see the sections on
"Reflection" in WebCT.*

*To complete this assignment, students interview family members about their
families' educational backgrounds, and students begin writing about some of
their own important educational moments.  Students are encouraged to allow
themselves and their families define what "education" means. For example, a
grandfather may have left school at the end of the sixth grade, then
apprenticed to a newspaper, eventually becoming a journalist.  His education
as a journalist did not take place in school but on the job.  Or, students
may consider the education they received as the member of a sports team or
in a single-sex or church-run school.*

*Students also define the limits of their families.  A student with many
cousins, aunts, and uncles may choose to focus only on her most immediate
family.  Students who emigrated to the U.S. may not have direct access to
many relatives and may choose to include all the family members about whom
he can get information.  There may be individuals who are separated from
their birth families and they may interview the significant adults in their
lives.*

*Using the information gathered, students will construct a creative
representation of their own or their family's educational histories.  Students
may use any format (prose, poetry, art, expressive dance…) to tell this
story to the class.  Students may meet with the instructor to discuss
individual ideas and questions.  A written reflection paper is also
required.*

*From: Bushnell, M. and S. E. Henry. (Educational Policy, Summer 2003). The
Role of Reflection in Epistemological Change: Autobiography in Teacher
Education. Educational Studies*.

*Students should make a special effort to look for connections between the
course material and their family research.  For example, did a parent attend
a segregated school (history and sociology)? How did this experience shape
their lives?*



On 11/18/06, Josh Kildall <kildalljt at hotmail.com> wrote:

>

> I'm glad to hear that. I hope it goes well!

> Josh

>

>

>

> The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again,

> and

> expecting a different result.

> - Albert Einstien

>

>

>

>

>

> >From: "Carol Speigl" <cleespeig at worldnet.att.net>

> >Reply-To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion

> >List<englishlanguage at nifl.gov>

> >To: "The Adult English Language Learners Discussion

> >List"<englishlanguage at nifl.gov>

> >Subject: [EnglishLanguage 832] Re: meaningful activities

> >thataddresslearners'identities

> >Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2006 15:09:28 -0600

> >

> >Josh,

> >I really like your biography activity.  In fact, I am planning to use it

> >tonight.

> >

> >Carol Speigl

> >NEISD Adult Ed.

> >San Antonio, TX.

> >----- Original Message -----

> >From: "Josh Kildall" <kildalljt at hotmail.com>

> >To: <englishlanguage at nifl.gov>

> >Sent: Monday, November 13, 2006 10:27 AM

> >Subject: [EnglishLanguage 829] Re: meaningful activities that

> >addresslearners'identities

> >

> >

> > > Hi Anne,

> > > One activity I do with my level 2 adult ESL class is do biographies of

> >each

> > > other. First, the students read a sample biography. Next, they create

> > > questions from the biography (i.e. did you live in a small town or big

> >city

> > > in your country, etc...). Then they interview each other in class, and

> >then

> > > finally they write a paragraph using their partners responses from the

> > > interview. Then after they turn them in, we also edit them. I hope

> this

> > > helps!

> > > Josh

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over

> again,

> >and

> > > expecting a different result.

> > > - Albert Einstien

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > >From: "Anne Ricketts" <anneinitaly at hotmail.com>

> > > >Reply-To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion

> > > >List<englishlanguage at nifl.gov>

> > > >To: englishlanguage at nifl.gov

> > > >Subject: [EnglishLanguage 828] meaningful activities that address

> > > >learners'identities

> > > >Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2006 16:03:52 -0800

> > > >

> > > >Hi,

> > > >

> > > >My name is Anne and I am a MA TESOL student at San Francisco State

> > > >University.

> > > >

> > > >I am writing a research paper on what specefic practices or

> activities

> >ESL

> > > >teachers use to address learners' identities.

> > > >

> > > >I know this is a broad topic, but I am looking for specific

> activities

> >that

> > > >you, the teachers, have found successful in getting to know who your

> > > >learners are, particularly low-level Students.

> > > >

> > > >The activity could involve any facet of identity, either personal or

> > > >cultural.

> > > >

> > > >And, what are the results or visible changes you see in the learners

> as

> >a

> > > >result of these activities?

> > > >

> > > >Thank you. I would appreciate any input.

> > > >

> > > >Anne

> > > >

> > > >_________________________________________________________________

> > > >Get today's hot entertainment gossip

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> > > >----------------------------------------------------

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> > > >Message sent to KILDALLJT at hotmail.com.

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