Notes to Teachers

Decisions! Decisions! was designed by Carolyn O Burleson as an educational resource for life-long learning and decision making.  These activities will call upon students to explore the decision making process and learn how the life choices they make effect them and their families. As they develop a plan for their lives, they will answer the questions...

What are important decisions at each stage of my life? 
How can I make the best decisions for my life plan?

The interdisciplinary learning audience is secondary Life Skills, Language Arts, Social Science, and Health students.

Before beginning this WebQuest, Teachers should have students read and discuss Clarifying What You Value.

Students should have basic skill in word processing and in navigating the Internet.  Also, the teacher should familiarize students with Thinking Maps® as tools to organize their thoughts and illustrate their final product.

STANDARDS ADDRESSED

LAUSD Life Skills Standards:

1.  Define morals, values, and ethics, and explain how they can be integrated into the decision-making process.

  • Define their own morals, values and ethics.

  • Be able to recognize the external and internal influences that shape their morals, values and ethics.

  • Apply personal morals, values and ethics as guide lines in a decision-making process.

  • Consider the positive and negative consequences of their decisions.

Research and Technology

1.3 Use clear research questions and suitable research methods (e.g., library, electronic media, personal   interview) to elicit and present evidence from primary and secondary sources.

1.4 Develop the main ideas within the body of the composition through supporting evidence (e.g., scenarios, commonly held beliefs, hypotheses, definitions).

1.5 Synthesize information from multiple sources and identify complexities and discrepancies in the information and the different perspectives found in each medium (e.g., almanacs, microfiche, news sources, in-depth field studies, speeches, journals, technical documents).

1.6 Integrate quotations and citations into a written text while maintaining the flow of ideas.

1.7 Use appropriate conventions for documentation in the text, notes, and bibliographies by adhering to those in style manuals (e.g., Modern Language Association Handbook, The Chicago Manual of Style).

1.8 Design and publish documents by using advanced publishing software and graphic programs.

Social Studies

Students compare the present with the past, evaluating the consequences of past events and decisions and determining the lessons learned.

Health
  1. Compare the stages of physical, mental, emotional, and social growth and development, including sexuality* that occur throughout the life cycle from the prenatal stage through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and death. 
  2. Analyze and compare the impact of different factors and behaviors that promote the health of families.

 

National Education Technology Standards for Students
 


 

Resources Needed

To implement this WebQuest you will need:

  • Computers with Internet access
  • Word processing program
  • Concept mapping software such as Mind Manager or Inspiration would be helpful.
  • A presentation software would be helpful
  • Rubric for assessing the final presentation.

Other valuable resources:

  • Create a BLOG (or have your students create their own) where students can interact and have meaningful discussions online.
  • Resource links are provided to use as you guide your students through the process to complete this WebQuest