CPR= CULTURAL PARTICIPATION AND RESEARCH

The purpose of Cultural Participation and Research is to give foreign language students individual opportunities to connect to the target language and culture outside of the classroom. To ensure that students learn and benefit from these projects, the following guidelines will be used to help them understand their CPR projects and goals.

Portfolio: All CPR work must be maintained in a portfolio. This will stay with the student from semester to semester, and year to year. Please read the portfolio guidelines to follow.

Authentic Learning: I expect the vast majority of students to work very hard on their projects. With their hard work in mind, remember that it is unfair and unethical for any student to turn in work which is not original. This includes turning in a project which has already received credit in another class; turning in a project completed by someone else; plagiarism: copying from any source (book, computer, person, etc.)

Parent Involvement: Parental guidance and support is very important for success in CPR projects. Just as the teacher is the classroom "coach", the parent is the "coach" for outside learning. Planning: please discuss projects with your son/daughter. Sign each project to confirm that he/she really did do what the project details. Add your own comments/evaluations where appropriate. Help students stick to guidelines and timelines. Encourage students to think creatively and solve problems independently. Share your knowledge of upcoming events and ideas for projects: your suggestions matter! Students: don't forget that important "danke/bitte" for parental help with chauffeuring/chaperoning!

HOW CPR IS GRADED...ACTION*CONNECTION*REFLECTION I WILL BE LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OF THE FOLLOWING:

ACTION: Describe what you did. Where did you go and when? Who participated? How much time did you spend on the project? Give as much information as possible: What channel was it on? How many pages? Did you learn any German? Can you list words or record a conversation? Irrefutable evidence like ticket stubs, receipts, photos and brochures will lend even more credibility to your project.

CONNECTION: Why did you choose this project? How does it relate to the culture? To which particular culture is it related? What are your sources? What did it help you to understand about the language or people?

REFLECTION: What did you learn? How did you feel? Nervous? Excited? Bored? Would you recommend this project to another student? Would you plan it differently? What did you like best? What would you do differently? Think and reflect carefully. This is the most important part of your report! Every project needs reflection!

One 50 point CPR project is due each quarter. Deadlines will be announced well in advance. Students may do an extra project (or a more complicated one) for extra credit.  Students grade themselves on a rubric, which is handed in at the same time as the project.  Therefore, the project contains 3 parts:  the project itself, the reflection and the graded rubric.  Students grades are severely injured if projects are not turned in.

There are suggested activities on the website or students may do another project approved by Frau Branson.  Typically the fourth quarter project can be German Convention if the student goes and participates (and writes a review of the day afterward for the reflection). 

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Last updated 6/24/2006