Understanding Organization

Guiding Questions

What is my own history of organization? Why?
What does it mean to be organized? How can we be organized? Why is it important to be organized?
What is Goal Setting? Why is it necessary?
How can we effectively set goals? How can we monitor these goals?
What is motivation? What am I motivated about? How can I increase my intrinsic motivation about school?

My Organizational History Quiz

Before establishing an effective organizational plan, it is essential that you understand your organizational history and habits. Please take this quiz to gain greater knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses with regards to organization.

Organizational Skills Quiz

Organizational Quiz Debrief: Write/Pair/Share

In your digital notebooks, jot down answers to the following questions as you reflect on your quiz results.

In what areas of organization are you strong?

What areas seem to be your weaknesses?

What behaviours do you engage in regularly that seem to contribute to effective organization?

What behaviours do you engage in regularly that seem to prevent organization?

Once you have identified your own answers to these questions, you will be assigned a partner. Please share with this partner your history with organization. Be ready to share your ideas with the class as well.

What is Organization? Why is it Important?

Below you will see two scenarios, in your assigned groups examine the pictures and determine

1. what makes these environments so disorganized? (be specific)

2. what effect could this disorganization in these environments have on this student academically?

After assessing the problems and consequences of these scenarios, determine what steps the student should take inorder to "get organized". Please outline your steps on the chart paper provided and be prepared to share your thinking with the class.

Scenario #1

Scenario #2

Based on the previous activity, what is the definition of organization and why is it important in life? Please take 5 - 8 minutes to answer these two questions in your digital notebooks. Be prepared to share your thinking with the class.

The Changing State of Education--Class Debate

Donna Goldberg and Jennifer Zwiebel note that academic life has changed drastically in the past two decades. There is an “increase in pressure on students, heavier workloads, and an overwhelming number of distractions…students are drowning in paper, inundated with handouts, printouts, and packets. They lose hours each day to email, instant messaging, and the Internet”.

Therefore, schooling today is more difficult than it was 20 years ago. The class will be divided in two to debate this statement. You will have 15 minutes to prepare your agruments (you can use your computers to research statistics quickly if you so choose).