This definitely isn't your standard lecture and yawn way to teach what many high schoolers consider "BORING!!! The Dec. 13th Charlotte Observer had an article about Jeff Joyce's Advanced Placement Class at the Northwest School of the Arts by Ann Doss Helms.
This is totally interactive and student involvement, and, in this day and age of standardized high stakes NCLB tests. Jeff Joyce bucks the trend and has come up with a true learning experience, one of a role-playing trivia game.
"We killed two of them and six of us are dead," was the report after an early morning Union ambush. But there was no bloodshed despite the casualties. "The decision was made to "Stay up and study. Study, study, study!!"
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
The school is divided into Union and Confederate territories. Anyone caught venturing into enemy turf can be "attacked" by the other side with questions. Answer wrong and you give up a ration card. Get it right and you take one. Lose them all and you're dead. Teachers are spies as well.
Each "army" researches and writes their own questions and refresh them constantly, but Joyce must approve them for correctness, clarity, and meaningfulness.
The armies wear blue and gray, but are open to modifications. No Confederate flags are brought to school for fear of appearing racist (Oh well.)
A BATTLE
During class change, one Confederate confronted a Union soldier "What did Lincoln use to kill the Wade-Davis Bill?" Answer from Union soldier "The 10% Solution." Wrong and loss of one ration card. Correct answer was "Pocket Veto." I would have lost a ration card on that one. Never heard of the Wade-Davis Bill.
At the end of the "war," Confederates elect a General Lee and the Union a General Grant. They meet at Appomattox Court House (Joyce's room), tally points, and demand surrender. So far, the Confederates gave won six times and Union five.
Definitely a way to make learning more fun. However, this is a special school and an upper level class. I'm not sure it would work with regular students, but who knows?
You can view the article at
www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/41248.html.
Worth a Shot. Way to Go Mr. Joyce. --Old B-R'er
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
