Solving Problems Together

Students will:

• Be able to create a Google Form.
• Be able to gather perceptions and ideas from community members and use these to formulate and present a solution to a local issue.
• Be able to analyze data and plan solutions to local problems based on the data. 

Vocabulary Words:

1. Google Forms: Google Forms is a web-based app used to create forms for data collection purposes.
    
2. QR Code: A QR code is a type of barcode that is readable by dedicated QR barcode readers and camera telephones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded may be text you want students to read, websites, or video.

To prepare for this lesson:

• Read the tutorial on Google Forms or visit Google Forms.

• If you need more detail view the video on Google Forms. 

• Students will need to be able to create a QR code. Use the instructions from the 21 Things 4 Students website to pre-teach this skill.

• Determine places in the community where posters could be displayed and talk to managers or other business owners to pre-arrange student posting.

Note: 

• Understanding that not all adults in the community understand how to use a QR Code, you could have students publish on the poster a Google shortened URL.
• Final presentations could be submitted to a city council member or the class could invite a few members of the community government to visit the school and each group could present to a different person.

See the Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students website in the Teacher Resources. 

Directions for this activity:

1. Students will choose from a precompiled list of local issues or suggest one of their own.

2. Students work in groups of four-five to choose an issue they would like to explore.

3. Groups create a list of questions for their survey (can be multiple choice, yes/no, or short answer).

4. Using Google Forms student groups create a form that surveys the community using their pre-created list.

5. At this point, students would use a QR code to link to their form.

6. Create posters that display the QR code and explain that the students would like the communities input on a matter close to home.

7. Posters should be displayed around the community for a set number of days or until enough data has been collected. Students use the data collected to formulate a solution to the issue and create a presentation explaining their process and the solution they decided upon.

Different options for assessing the students:

• Observations
• Check for understanding
• Teacher created rubric to score the presentations