The following is the second PBL prompt:
Global worming is affecting the quality of life in ways that were not anticipated by the world scientists. It has affected the atmosphere. The world has a dark cloud blotting out the light just as the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius blocked the light and rained terror down on the citizens of Pompeii. People around the globe are becoming fearful and are acting in extremely hostile ways toward their neighbors. Nations under tremendous stress are becoming more and more belligerent to each other, both to friends and foes.
This morning BBC, CNN, and almost every newspaper in the Western hemisphere reported on a Greco-Roman cult announcing that the Statue of Apollo has been transformed into flesh and blood and is strolling the ruins of Pompeii. With a sarcastic tone yet a sense of mystery many reporters have announced the return of Apollo, the Sun God and God of healing:
“Apollo is leading the Gods reclaiming the town of Pompeii… they are seeking the reconstruction of Pompeii, curing all its ills and bringing back their City of Light.” Countless citizens have flocked to the ruins of Pompeii. They attest hearing Delphic Oracles of Apollo, around Mount Vesuvius calling out "know thyself", "nothing too much", "avoid hubris”, and so on while referring to the end of the Hellenic period of religion.
In Rome, the oldest copy of “De Architectura” has disappeared from the museum. Meanwhile, around the world a number of widely respected, signature architects have been talking to their friends and colleagues about a bizarre dream they had the night before. Every one of them had dreamed of conferring among many, around a white round table with Vitruvius himself.
In the US, religious leaders from all sects are condemning the newspapers’ countless articles glorifying the “pagan” Gods and Goddesses, and their various interpretations claiming “the end of world religion.”
Curiosity was booming, newspaper headlines across the world were asking:
>> “What will Apollo, as the Sun God and God of Healing, change to bring back the light and atmosphere?”
>> “How will the past and present, and the old and new be reconciled in Pompeii?"
>> “How will the reconstruction of Pompeii serve to influence the rest of the world?”
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Roman Roads and Bridges Reflection
Before this class I had never experienced a Problem Based Learning (PBL) approach to teaching. From the start of the PBL I found it interesting and exciting that as students we determined what to do in presentation and was not given a handout or a specific way of doing it, we were in control. When I found out in class who my teammates were I was excited and happy for the diverse and intelligent group that I was put into. Our first PBL was Roman Roads and Bridges. Before I came to College of Applied Sciences I was a Civil Engineering student. This PBL rejuvenated my love and appreciation for construction and architecture. So from the get go I was excited about receiving this topic. As the weeks went on my group was able to develop great ideas about the PBL. I remember that we were going to meet on a Saturday in October to work on the project. Well I got off work early and decided to take a nap in my car, when it was time to go meet up with the group I had learned that my car battery died because I had kept the lights on, because of this I missed the entire meeting and felt terrible about it. Even without me there my group accomplished a lot; I felt bad for missing the meeting, so I stepped up and decided to create the power point and do a little extra. Even through my mishap we finished the PBL and presented it. During the presentation we were each a different person from the Roman Empire and I was Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, a Roman Politician and Military Commander. I was a little nervous (still don’t know why) but the first thing I did was miss a very important line from the speech, making my “Quiz Question” almost impossible to answer. The strangest part of the presentation was that we practiced it about 4 times, each time averaging 20 minutes of speaking, but during the presentation we spoke for around 40 minutes. Overall the PBL was very fun and challenging to accomplish, and I am looking forward to doing the next PBL…Pompeii.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Roman Roads
Our first problem based Learning (PBL) project was to try and redevelop enthusiasm in Roman Roads and Bridges for younger children. We were in a fictional contest that was trying to win $5,000 for a trip, and we had to raise interest in children about Roman Roads and Bridges. From the start of the assignment my group started to blend really well with each other, developing great ideas on how to achieve this problem. As the weeks went on the group learned each other’s potentials and took advantage of each of these. For example Jordan created the following video and is a very good speaker and leader:
Tyler was very knowledgeable in the area of roads and bridges because he is studying Civil Engineering and also a good speaker. Rachel is a great cook and good speaker. I created the PowerPoint that we used; also I feel that my background in giving speeches helped. Each of these skills and others helped make our presentation both exciting and professional.
We decided that the best way to accomplish the PBL was to create a play/story for younger children that would create enthusiasm and keep the children’s attention. Like I said we focused the PBL around a story where each of use was a different person from the Roman Empire that would have had specific background on the Roman Roads and Bridges. Tyler portrayed Cornelius Scipio Africanus who was a general in the Second Punic War and statesman of the Roman Republic. Scipio would have used the roads and built them while he was in the Roman Army, because the main functions of roads were for military purposes. Rachel portrayed Matella who was a fictional character that we made, the purpose of her was to be the Emperors main historian, and Rachel was the narrator of the PBL story. Jordan portrayed Pliny the Elder was an ancient author, naturalist or natural philosopher and naval and military commander of some importance who wrote Naturalis Historia. He is known for his saying "True glory consists in doing what deserves to be written; in writing what deserves to be read". We used this character for the artistic side of the roads and bridges. Finally, I portrayed Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. Magnus was a Politician and Commander in the Roman Empire. Magnus would have used the roads for both military and political purpose, as well as economic. By using this strategy we were able to highlight all the major portions of the roads and bridges by making it fun and intellectually interesting.
The following are Pictures from the PowerPoint:
Appian Way
Arch of Titus
Road Network
Miliarium Aureum
Pont Julian
Tyler was very knowledgeable in the area of roads and bridges because he is studying Civil Engineering and also a good speaker. Rachel is a great cook and good speaker. I created the PowerPoint that we used; also I feel that my background in giving speeches helped. Each of these skills and others helped make our presentation both exciting and professional.
We decided that the best way to accomplish the PBL was to create a play/story for younger children that would create enthusiasm and keep the children’s attention. Like I said we focused the PBL around a story where each of use was a different person from the Roman Empire that would have had specific background on the Roman Roads and Bridges. Tyler portrayed Cornelius Scipio Africanus who was a general in the Second Punic War and statesman of the Roman Republic. Scipio would have used the roads and built them while he was in the Roman Army, because the main functions of roads were for military purposes. Rachel portrayed Matella who was a fictional character that we made, the purpose of her was to be the Emperors main historian, and Rachel was the narrator of the PBL story. Jordan portrayed Pliny the Elder was an ancient author, naturalist or natural philosopher and naval and military commander of some importance who wrote Naturalis Historia. He is known for his saying "True glory consists in doing what deserves to be written; in writing what deserves to be read". We used this character for the artistic side of the roads and bridges. Finally, I portrayed Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. Magnus was a Politician and Commander in the Roman Empire. Magnus would have used the roads for both military and political purpose, as well as economic. By using this strategy we were able to highlight all the major portions of the roads and bridges by making it fun and intellectually interesting.
The following are Pictures from the PowerPoint:
Appian Way
Arch of Titus
Road Network
Miliarium Aureum
Pont Julian
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