World
Affairs Challenge
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World Affairs Challenge 2005 in Pictures
The World Affairs Challenge is an academic program
for Middle School students. The theme for 2005, "Global Energy:
Empowering the Future," challenged students to understand the
complexities of global energy use. The event was held at University
Heights Center in Seattle on May 13, 2005.
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Welcome!
Liz Beindorff, a Project Director
for the Center for Teaching International Relations at the
University of Denver, welcomes participants.
Throughout the day, teams of
students made 15 minute formal presentations of their research,
took the Global Awareness Quiz, and worked to find a solution
to an energy use problem in the Collaborative Question.
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The Judges
The Challenge provided an exceptional
chance for business and community leaders to engage with
young people on substantive issues by volunteering as judges.
In this way, these leaders both encouraged the students
to be future leaders and contributed to developing a work
force and an electorate attuned to international events.
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| The "Global
Awareness Quiz"
The first event of the day was a short, multiple-choice
assessment that tested students' knowledge of global geography,
world events, and aspects of the annual theme. There was a
tie for first place and, after a tiebreaker, the winner was
announced. Congratulations to Mark Orines,
from Hamilton International Middle School, for placing 1st
and Ry Ravenholt, from Kingston Junior High
School, for placing 2nd! (Take the Global
Awareness Quiz for 2005 (PDF). If you would like the answers,
email globalclassroom@world-affairs.org.)
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The "Formal Presentation"
The second and main event was
the Formal Presentation, during which each team had 15 minutes
to present its extensive research and analysis, to identify
the major policy issues raised, and to propose reasonable
solutions. The students' challenge was to design a presentation
that best communicated their understanding of the topic's
complexities. Many presentations took the form of creative
skits or simulations. Congratulations to Chief Kanim
Team #1 for coming in 1st and Chief Kanim
Team #2 for coming in 2nd! (Read the lyrics of
"Biomass
Blues," (PDF) a song written and performed by Chief
Kanim Team #1.)
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The "Collaborative Question"
In the third event, students were organized
into new teams with peers from other schools. They were then
presented with a real-world scenario, including support materials
and data, regarding India and the energy crisis, for which
they had about 30 minutes to come to consensus on a response.
After this preparation time, judges joined the teams to hear
student ideas and engage in substantive dialogue with them
regarding the scenario and the role they could play as United
States citizens in facilitating a solution. |
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The "Discovery Poster"
The fourth event was the judging
of each team’s Discovery Poster, created in advance
as a visual representation of their Formal Presentation, which
allowed students to see each other’s research, analysis,
and findings. The posters were very creative and informative!
Congratulations to Chief Kanim Team #1 for winning the award
for best discovery poster. |
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Participation
At the end of the day, all participants
received certificates. Also, judges shared what they enjoyed
about the day's events and were also thanked for their participation.
Congratulations to the overall team winner, Chief Kanim Team
#1, and to all participants! Thank you judges and volunteers
for helping to make this day such a success!! |
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Looking Beyond the Challenge
While a rigorous academic program,
the Challenge successfully helped many middle school students reach
beyond their comfort zone and learn about issues involving energy
resources and energy use both in the United States and around the
world. It assisted the students in understanding the complexities
of global problems and helped them to learn the value of teamwork
and global responsibility. Furthermore, it strengthened their critical
thinking skills, helped them to see the relevance of academic study
to real world problems, and exposed them to career paths and/or
areas of study that address these problems.
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