Middle School Partners Program
SAISD
Our Communication is Out of This World
Earth Odyssey Space Mission
This year Harris Middle School was able to receive a grant to participate in the Earth Odyssey Space Mission through the Challenger Learning Center at the Scobee Planetarium. As part of the mission, students were placed onto teams based on their interests and each team had member both in space on the International Space Station (ISS) and on Earth at Mission Control (MC). Each team had to communicate with their team members actual data and information to solve real-life based problems and avert disaster. Students enjoyed rising to the challenges to analyze data and conduct scientific research in space. Two students even had to re-build a circuit to repair a broken satellite using only the materials available on the space station. Since our current IB learner profile focuses on communication, students were able to see just how important accurate and clear communication is whether facing a challenge here on Earth or charting new courses in Space.
Students on the International Space Station Await Communication from Mission Control
Communication in the Classrom
Continuing our focus on effective communication, Harris Partners' students, participated in an activity where they were challenged with describing a piece of abstract art to their partner who must then attempt to draw the picture based only on that verbal description. Afterwards, students were able to discuss what aspects enhanced communication and what caused confusion. Students learned the importance of asking questions to clarify information and that clear communication is the responsibility of both the speaker and the listener. This led to a further discussion on how students can use this information in other areas of their lives and take ownership of their learning. For instance, if students found that they were easily distracted by others conversation or excess noise during the activity, they were able to recognize that they might learn best if they move closer to the teacher and become more distracted at the back of the room. Other students were able to see that it was important to ask questions and not just assume that they understood what was being said. When reflecting as a speaker, students realized that it was frustrating when the listeners didn't understand or follow instructions. As listeners, they recognized that they needed to ask specific questions if they were unclear about what was being said. This helped students recognize that it was not just the responsibility of the teacher to give information, it was their responsibility as students to actively seek information and insure their own understanding. While the results were lighthearted and, often funny, the activity gave students and opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of various aspects of communication, things that serve as a barrier to effective communication, and problem solve ways to remove these barriers in their own lives.
Examples of Student Work from the Descriptive Art Activity
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Edgenuity and the Partners Program
We are excited to move forward with Edgenuity Online Learning in order to build stronger academic success for our Partner students. Edgenuity will be providing an exciting and engaging educational environment that is designed to capture the attention of our Partner students and draw them into the interactive world of online learning. Not only will students work during school hours on high school credits, but they will have the opportunity to access their account from home.