• Context
• Lesson-Specific Standards
• Teaching the Lesson
• Assessment
• Lesson Materials
• Resources

Students in Bill Mittlefehldt’s class are assessed in a number of ways and by a number of different people. Initially, the dress rehearsal of their presentation is assessed by their fellow students using the Team Rubric (PDF). The same rubric is used by the team to assess itself. At the students’ presentation to the Anoka City Council, both council members and members of the audience are asked to complete the Assessment Rubric: Anoka’s Civic Leadership (PDF) and return it to the students or their teacher.

In all cases, four skills are measured:

• Descriptions: Identifies simple elements of the issue or problem; describes problem accurately.
• Understanding: Organizes and relates basic elements; sees relationships between vocabulary and variables.
• Synthesis: works well in all modes; responds and integrates all ideas. Accepts responsibility for improving teamwork, information, and understanding for presentation.
• Application: Applies data, information, maps, and vocabulary in presentation. Puts commitment into action.

Students also are expected to write a five- to nine-page (typed, double-spaced) summary of their team project (see Applying Geographic Information to Analyze Public Policy Issues). This assignment is not intended to be a research paper but rather a report on what they did and how they did it. Students are told to describe their progress in defining the problem, developing a solution, and presenting the solution to the community. They are directed to include the following considerations:

• How they got interested in this topic. What issues were related to the topic?
• What are the social, economic, or environmental costs of the problem?.
• What did they learn from their community partner?
• What do they propose for a solution to the problem?
• What are their specific recommendations?

They also make a final presentation to the class during the last week of the semester.

Assessment Rubric: Anoka’s Civic Leadership (PDF)

Team Rubric (PDF)