Secret Agent Training Program
A challenging webquest to promote global awareness for high school students
Evan Brees Ariane McCay Jennifer Williams
Matt Seamon Rae Kilgore |
Due to increasing threats to our national security, the CIA is recruiting and they need your help! They have hired your crack team of experts to prepare new agents for deployment to regions all over the world.
You will be assigned a world region to research and create a product to educate these agents about all the important aspects of your region. Their safety and success will depend on the accuracy and thoroughness of your work, so read the process carefully!
NOTICE: Your team may decide the best method to do this, but here are some examples:
Lo-Tech – Poster, booklet, brochure
Hi-Tech – Powerpoint slide show, web page
Remember to get your teacher to approve your choice once you have made a decision!
Are you ready?
Read this section carefully! Get help from each other or the teacher if you don’t understand something!
1. You will be working with a team of 3 other students to complete this mission (4 team members all together). Your teacher will tell you if you can pick your own or if they will be assigned.
2. Once your research team is formed, you will need to decide which role each of you is going to perform. Your choices are (in alphabetical order):
a) Anthropologist – Studies the cultures of the region and advises about special circumstances (e.g. ethnic groups that are in conflict with each other, how different groups are treated, whether everyone has the same rights, etc.) b) Economist – Analyzes what goods and services are available in the region and advises about the special stauts of different members of the population d) Geographer – Analyzes the climates, countries, peoples, and natural resources of the region.
Once you have agreed on who is going to be what, you are ready to begin!
3. First, do yourself a favor and take the time to read through the topics and questions for your role. If there are words you need to look up, or questions you don’t understand, now is the time to get those issues straightened out!
4. After you are familiar with your role and questions, use the resource links underneath your questions to begin finding material to address them.
5. As you gather material, be sure that you keep track of all your work! You will be graded on how well you keep track of your sources too, so don’t lose track of any sources!
6. Here are some additional suggestions:
a. Get a spiral notebook with pockets to take notes in and store printed material.
b. It would be a very good idea to get your teammates phone numbers and/or e-mail addresses in case you have to communicate or someone is absent.
c. Finally, communicate, communicate, communicate! If you run into a brick wall, whether it is with the material or each other, no one is going to feel sorry for you if you did not ask for help. If you have a conflict, try to work it out directly with the other team member or classmate. If this doesn’t work, go to the teacher. |
a) Major ethnic groups in the country. Include any conflicts between different ethnic gorups, and whether they share political equal power in the region. Also note significant features like whether the dominant ethnic group is controlled by a minority group.
b) Religions and percentage of the population that practices each religion
c) Literacy rates (percentage of people who can read). Also include important characteristics, like differences between male and female literacy, different ethnic groups, etc.
d) What kinds of foods are popular in the country? Identify and describe some local dishes to prepare your agent on what to expect. Recipes are bonus.
e) What is the state of health in the region? Do the people have access to adaquate medical care, or is this only available to the wealthy? What diseases affecting the region should your agent be aware of and be vaccinated against?
f) What conflicts are occurring in your country right now? Is there war? Political instability? Other types of conflict?
g) What major social issues does the region face? Are there any social issues that are country-specific?
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Writer of Wealth of Nations
a) How developed is the region? Are the countries within the region considered to be developed or developing? Are some countries in the region more developed than others? If so, what factors might explain this?
b) Does the region have a plan for development (e.g. are they attempting to build their infrastructure and diversify their economy, or are most people living at a subsistence level?
c) What energy sources does the region rely on (e.g. coal, hydroelectric, nuclear, etc.). How well does the region’s energy output meet the needs of its citizens? Is the energy source safe and clean, or is it causing serious environmental damage or health risks?
d) To what extent does the government subsidize the economy (e.g. medical care, food,. energy, etc.) Does everyone have equal access to employment, or are good jobs given to favored groups?
e) What is the level of education in the region? How many schools are there? Does everyone have access to education, or just a small segment of the population? What is the average level of education for a citizen?
f) What are the units of money (not just the major unit—Example: we have dollars, quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies)?
g) What trade agreements exist within the region? Countries outside of the region? What does the country import and export? Is there a balance of trade in the country (e.g. are they taking more than they are giving, or vice versa?) Are there any restrictions on trade (e.g. countries that refuse to trade with them, or vice versa? Why?). Do average people benefit from the regions’ trade arrangements, or only a few? How does the trade situation affect other issues in the country (e.g. poverty, political instability, etc.)?
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Writer of Silent Spring
a) Arable land - How much land area is available for producing food? Does the region produce enough food to feed its population, or does it need to import food? If it imports food, where does it come from? If it exports food, what crops? Is farmland threatened by things like development or erosion?
b) Water - Does the region have enough fresh water to support its population? If there is a freshwater shortage, is it causing conflict with surrounding areas? Are there threats to the water supply (e.g. pollution from toxic waste)? What is being done to ensure a stable and safe water supply for crops and people?
c) Air pollution - What issues does the region face with air quality? How much of an impact is the region making on global warming and other problems (e.g. acid rain).
d) Endangered Species- Identify endangered species in your region and what is being done to protect them (if anything). Identify and explain factors that help or interfere with endangered species protection (e.g. in some poor countries, poaching is a serious problem).
e) Natural Resources - What kinds of natural resources are available to the people of the region (e.g. timber, oil, minerals, etc.)? How are they being used? Are resources being used wisely, or are they being stripped? What effect is this having on wildlife populations? Human populations?
f) Management - What efforts have the countries taken to protect their environments (if any)? Are there agreements between different countries or with other regions to protect the environment? Identify and describe these efforts.
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Father of Geography
a) Political map of the region showing countries, capitals and all major cities and landmarks. Include a key.
b) Physical map of the region showing all major landforms (mountains, valleys, etc.) and waterways (rivers, lakes, oceans, etc.). Note which landforms also serve as political borders. Include a key.
c) Climate map showing the major eco-zones (e.g. desert, steppe, plain, etc.). Include a key.
d) Land area in square kilometers for the region and individual countries
e) Population - Overall for the region and by country
f) Climate - What is the weather like each season (winter, fall, spring and summer)? How will this determine the type of gear and clothing the agent should be equipped with?
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Contains a variety of resources (facts, maps, flags, etc.) of different countries of the world.
Site contains information regarding the culture, geography, economy, government, etc. of different countries
Site contains information history, economics, government, etc. of different countries
Includes text from constitutions of countries from around the world.
British Broadcasting Channel site that provides information on different countries, their leaders, and major news headlines.
Library of Congress website that focuses on the history, politics, society, and culture of different countries.
United Kingdom website that includes background information on the history, political atmosphere, geography, society, and human rights, on different countries.
United Kingdom website dedicated to travel warnings.
United States website about travel warnings all over the globe. Identifies places were U.S. embassies are shut down or unavailable.
You will be evaluated on two things: Your product, and your presentation. This means you will get two grades! Here are the rubrics to help you do your best. As always, read them carefully and make sure you understand them completely! Good luck!
Conclusion
Students:
As a concluding activity, it is a good idea to reflect on the project you have just completed. In a 1-2 page journal, discuss in general what you have learned about the world you didn't already know. Did anything surprise you? Is there anything you want to find out more about? Also, please express your achievements and challenges. Be sure to include anything you think your teacher should be aware of to make this project more successful for future classes.
Teachers:
We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original authors' name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this WebQuest. On the line after the original authors' name, you may add Modified by (your name) on (date). If you do modify it, please let me know and provide the new URL. egbrees@yahoo.com
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