This document outlines an activity for students to practice solving problems based on evidence. It discusses an assignment where students will be asked to review articles and work collaboratively to analyze sources and prepare a two-page report for the governor of Ohio arguing whether cell phone use while driving should be prohibited based on credible evidence. The activity is meant to help students develop critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving skills as well as the ability to utilize sources to support their arguments.

1. Thinking to Learn & Learning to ThinkThe Oiler ExperienceFall 2009

2. Information Literacy In order to be “information literate”, students need to build skills in locating, evaluating, and utilizing sources for a variety of purposes

3. “Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.” -William Butler Yeats

4. General Education Goals:Build critical, analytical, & logical thinking skillsBuild technological, written, & oral communication skillsBecome acquainted with diverse perspectives, and the history of a variety of disciplines;Develop an appreciation of the arts in order to grow as responsible global citizens

5. from Wick & Phillips, 2008“Liberal Education Scorecard”General Education Goals, cont.Establish personal dispositions needed to participate in a modern democracy

6. How are the learning goals measured?CourseworkService learning & volunteer workCooperative learning experiencesStandardized tests (ie: the CLA)

7. Collegiate Learning Assessment(CLA)Measures students’ ability to analyze, think critically, and respond in writingGiven to a sampling of first semester freshmen and final semester seniorsLooks for growth in abilities from freshman year to senior year

8. “ Our job is to educate free, independent, and vigorous minds capable of analyzing events, of exercising judgment, of distinguishing fact from propaganda, and truths from half –truths and lies.”- Nathan Marsh PuseyPresident, Lawrence College, 1944-1953President, Harvard University, 1953-1973

9. Three CLA MeasurementsCreate an argumentAnalyze an argumentSolve a problem based on evidence (Performance Task)

10. The Oiler ExperienceFor the next few weeks of The Oiler Experience, we will be focusing on solving a problem based on evidence; in other words, we will be doing a Performance Task.

11. The Oiler Experience Performance TaskSession Eight: Given a CLA problem to solve and some articles to readSession Nine: Learn how to access and analyze sources that will help solve your CLA problemSession Ten: You will work collaboratively to analyze your sources and prepare a response to the problemSession Eleven: You will share your response with your classmates.

12. Move Into Your Groups

13. Sample Performance TaskCrime Reduction Performance Task Response

14. Performance TaskYou are members of Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland’s task force on “Technology, Society, and You”. Specifically, the governor is looking for recommendations about whether or not to make cell phone use while driving illegal in the state of Ohio. This includes all aspects of cell phone use among drivers—in instances of private as well as public transportation. Task:As members of this task force, your group must submit a two-page report (based on credible evidence) to the governor arguing why cell phone use while driving should or should not be prohibited in Ohio.

15. Reminder!Bring your computers & power adapters to class next week to do research on the internet.