Invisible Children

If you're interested in learning more, go here. Feel free to browse around the website, read about the history of the organization and the war in Uganda, the current status, the invisible children blog, and the latest campaigns. You can also see the trailer for the film we will be seeing in the assembly on Friday. If you are so inspired, feel free to blog about what you learn. Maybe you'll even want to get involved...

Hidden Bias

Do you have any hidden biases? Even though we work to have a society based on the concepts of justice and fairness, are there parts of our unconscious that prevent that from happening? Today you will take a test to perhaps provide an insight to these answers.

1) Go to http://www.tolerance.org/hidden_bias/index.html
2) Read intro.
3) Click on Project Implicit’s website.
4) Click on Demonstration
5) Click on “Go to the Demonstration Tests”
6) Read the Preliminary Information and the Important disclaimer.
7) Click on the “general information about the IAT”
8) Read Measuring Implicit Associations
9) Read the “I am aware…” sentence and click on “I wish to proceed” (if you choose to)
10) Click on Take the Race IAT and read and follow all of the instructions to take the test. You do not need to answer all of the survey questions.
11) Read the results of your test. Consider: did the results show that you have some hidden bias? Were you surprised by the results? What do you think might be some of the reasons behind your test results? What questions do you have about the results?
12) Click on the “frequently asked questions” and skim the questions and answers.
13) Click on the tab at the top of the page labeled “Understanding IAT Results” and read information.
14) Return to http://www.tolerance.org/hidden_bias/index.html. Read the entire page. How does this information enhance or change your understanding of your result? What conclusions can you make about stereotypes? Prejudice? Biases? How might hidden biases influence you (or not)?

Race in America

For your next post, you are going to continue to explore the issues associated with race relations in the United States. Thus, please take some time and read some of the stories listed at the websites linked below. Take your time going through the articles. After reading a few from each site, post a response to your work on your blog. What strikes you? How do these match up with your thoughts and ideas from Andrew Hacker and Tim Wise's articles? What changes? What's different? How might any "hidden biases" impact your thinking about any of the articles? This will be considered as part of your portfolio for this unit.
CNN: Black in America
Chicago Tribune: Exploring Race

Mock Trial Recap and Response

After participating in mock trials regarding the issues of sexual harassment and date rape, you all have a first hand knowledge and level of expertise not easily reached by most. For this post please:

1. Recap each trial (note these comments should be dictated by your own opinion and not your role in the trial). What did you think about the result? Do you agree or disagree with the verdict? What were the most compelling facts? Why were these the most instructive or informative facts to consider? What would you have needed to see or hear in order to reach an opposite outcome?
2. Respond with your thoughts about both issues. What do people need to know about them? Are these significant problems here at DHS? How does the culture of DHS either add or detract to these problems? How can or should they be addressed?