Running with notebooks

I've used a similar activity to today's group reporting exercise with a press conference set up where if the students ask the right questions of the school district PR person, they will eventually learn that the principal has bombed the school in order to hide the fact that he has run off with the head secretary and embezzled school funds. I can see that using competitive groups to do the reporting is a lot more effective.  Being in a group helps students feel more comfortable and willing to ask questions.  They feed off each other and want to be the "winners." Ultimately everyone is a winner, however, because they have to analyze what went wrong and right and recognize that  in any interview they are working with humans who often act on emotion.

Our group knew we were missing something but as in real life had to meet a deadline and go only with the details we could corroborate.  Was it Colonel Mustard in the teachers' lounge with the puffer fish? It was interesting to play the part of a detective but ultimately that wasn't our job.  What an effective exercise in teaching not only how to get the answers you want and need but to recognize what you can and can't print as the truth.

Afterward, a few of us were talking about how to stage the exercise in our classrooms.  Wouldn't it be great to use some drama kids to play the parts?  (Of course they would have to be sworn to secrecy, which might be the biggest challenge.)

Thanks to all of those who played their parts so well--sometimes obnoxiously so.  You know who you are.

Terry Sheffield
Roy High School
Roy, Utah