Create Your Own Country Activity! SO WHAT IS THE VALUE?

 

    So what can we say about this assignment's pedagogical value? The "create your own country" activity has several layers of pedagogical value. 

    This project centers around a collaborative lesson format since it asks students to work together to decide many aspects of their country. Students read, write, draw and assemble their tri-fold presentation together working both  collectively and individually to complete tasks.. This in itself is valuable since it exposes students to a group learning environment.  These skills include finding common ground, resolving different ideas and assigning work to ensure everyone is working and all the work is completed.

    On the surface, this lesson has all the obvious and basic boxes covered. There is reading, writing, evaluation and even some map reading and geography thrown in for good measure. However, I believe the meat of this lesson is found in the  process to form the country which students are asked to create.

        This lesson allows students to explore, analyze and respond to many important topics. Students make critical determinations about the country which they are asked to create. These include their country's type of government, population, unemployment rates etc., These decisions are a tremendous jumping off point allowing for valuable discussion and reflection. Since this is framed under the collaborative model, this exercise becomes even more useful since the experience allows for  evaluation and discussion of divergent views and opinions.  Students can evaluate their viewpoints and arguments against the opinions of other students.  Students can hear a perspective they may not have considered. 

    All these skills are valuable and integral. Learning to listen to divergent viewpoints, practicing how to disagree respectfully and (maybe even)  convince someone of your viewpoint through a convincing discussion. (I.,E convince someone that a democracy is more beneficial than a monarchy). These experiences and skills are valuable for students as they learn to interact and communicate effectively in group settings. These experiences also give students opportunities to reflect and form their own world view and opinions.