Tough choices or tough times

Objectives:

• Students will articulate an appreciation for the ways in which the 21st century global economy is changing the structure of the job market in the US and other developed nations, and the ways in which it is forecasted to continue changing.
• Students will evaluate the implications of the changing world economy on their own academic choices and assess the adequacy with which the school systems they attend address these changes.

Time required:

• 1 hr (do others want to comment on how this could be shortened or split into two days?)

Format:

• For a small advisory (12-15 students), have students seated in a circle or U-shape.
• For larger groups, have breakout groups of 3 to 6.

Activities:

1. Post the the following two questions in such a way that all students can see them.
1. How will the job market be different for your generation?
2. How might these differences affect the choices of students and schools today?
2. Introduce these questions for comment from the group
1. Begin with a popcorn of responses to each of these questions Depending on your facilitation style, you may wish to have a student recorder of responses, or someone who keeps a speakers' list.
3. Give students the reading and focus them on the first 5 pages. Ask students to read carefully and underline a quote that they feel speaks to each of the questions, and be prepared to explain how the quote answers the discussion question. Give them 10-15 minutes to read silently and make margin notes.
   
4. Use a one-mic protocol to have students share their quotes and explanations with the group. Each student should be given a time limit (2 min?) to speak, with a timekeeper giving reminders.
5. Have students list the ways in which their original responses to the two discussion questions should be amended or deepened based on the reading. Have students also list ways in which they disagree with or have questions about the arguments made by the text. Have your student recorder(s) add these to the chart paper in a different color marker.

Resources:

Chart paper or whiteboards

Reading: Tough Choices or Tough Times, Executive Summary (pdf)