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Task 1. Big Picture Questions

Question 1 – Name 4 countries that have a great educational system. Based on what you learned in this course, what are 3
similarities that these countries have in common? In other words, what are some factors that have helped these countries to
excel in the area of education?
Japan, Canada, Finland, and Singapore are 4 countries that have a great educational system. All of these countries are very
wealthy. These countries value education and teach their students from a young age the importance of excelling in school.
Another big factor in their success is the rigorous teacher training. Only the best of the best teachers are chosen to teach.

Question 2 – Based on what you learned in this course; do you think the top performing countries are influencing other
countries? In other words, describe how the countries which are listed highest in terms of PISA scores are having an effect on
other countries?
Other countries are looking up to them in terms of education. They are examples of how to succeed and how to make changes
and see results from the changes. Also, the top performing countries happen to be in great financial standing. They are
powerhouses of the world, so they have a great influence the other countries.

Question 3 – Do you think that countries who pay little or no attention to educating its citizens can/will have a negative
impact on the world in the future? Support your answer.
I think they absolutely can have a negative impact on the world in the future. When people are not educated, they are more
likely to be in poverty, carry deadly diseases/STDs, and cause conflict. For example, in Uganda there is one of the highest
HIV/STD rates because of lack of education. These diseases can spread around and infect other citizens.

Question 4 - How does education in other countries compare to the system of education in the U.S. from your observations?
The United States is not one of the top performing countries in education. The education in the U.S. is less rigorous than
somewhere like Japan. The workload is easier, and students have two and a half months off for summer vacation. In many
European and Asian countries, a student’s future is defined and determined according to a test score. They are assigned to a
certain college and major. But in the United States, students can be anything they want as long as they work hard for it. In most
European countries, students are learning more than one language. But in the United States, it is usually only required for two
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semesters in high school. Although the education system in the U.S. is not one of the top performing, it does do well compared
to many other countries.

Question 4 - Name some populations that are denied a good education? For example, we all know based on experiences in
this class that women and girls are denied a good education in parts of world (sadly). What are other groups of people that
are denied a good education?
People living in extreme poverty are denied a good education, especially in 3rd world countries. They may not have school near
them, or they need every member of the family to be working in order to have food to eat. There are people being denied
education because of war near them, especially in the middle east. For example, when the Syrian War was at its peak, schools
were often a target. Because of the safety issue, so most kids in Syria stopped going to school because it could have been deadly.
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Task 2. Your Presentation PowerPoint (or whatever you used)
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Task 3. Group Presentation Lesson Plan

Overview
Students will learn about the education system in Colombia.

Objective(s) and Standards

Students will understand the basis of the education system in Columbia.
Students will learn the pros and the cons of the education system in Columbia.
Students will participate in a hands on collaborative activity.
Students will participate in a interactive check for understanding game.
Anticipatory Set
Begin by asking students what comes to mind when someone says Colombia. Students will be given the chance to answer. Then
we will begin our powerpoint presentation about Columbia. We will go through each slide and present the information on it to
the class. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions along the way.
Guided Practice
1. Have students gather into groups of 3 or 4
2. They will work together to complete the activity given.
3. Students will organize and sort through true and false facts about Columbia.
4. They will place the true facts in one column.
5. They will place the false facts in another column.
6. We will review the correct answers together as a class.
7. Those who get it correct will earn a treat.

Closure/Check for Understanding

1. Students will log onto Kahoot.it and enter the game code.
2. They will answer trivia questions about Columbia and its education system.
3. They will be checked for understanding through being quizzed during the game.
Required Materials/Equipment
1. Computer for presentation
2. Facts about Colombia game
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3. Cellphone
4. Treats

Assessment
Kahootz quiz– students will answer quiz questions about Columbia and its education system.
Personal Notes
In the event that there is no access to a computer, we will present the material through lecture style. For the CFU we will use
individual whiteboards or paper to answer the trivia questions.

Question - How Could You Improve Your Lesson Plan In The Future? What Else Could You Add To Make It More Useful?
In the future I would add the expected time lengths for each section and activity. We could also add specific state standards so
that it is more specific in the objectives section.