BRONZE MEDALLION INITIATIVE

YEAR 8 microlesson

I have known most of these kids since they were in class 2.

Task: to create a situation whereby learning for the Bronze Medallion
is not just a rote experience but something they will remember.
There is no REAL way to assess how much students have learnt for this
well-respected and traditionl world wide recognised award UNLESS
THE CHILDREN ARE IN A TRUE EMERGENCY - BECAUSE IT IS
THEN AND ONLY THEN A REAL RESPONSE CAN BE GUAGED.

When confronted with the prescription that self preservation is a priority
one girl was very dismayed, in fact horrified. She has a very noble disposition
and the idea of 'not' risking her life to save a person shocking.

AFTER LEARNING MANY LIFESAVING SKILLS, WATER SAFETY GUIDELINES AND INCREASING FITNESS, THE INDIVIDUAL IS PRESENTED WITH A SIMULATED EMERGENCY SCENARIO AT THE POOL
THE QUALITY OF THOUGHT REQUIRED TO ASSESS THE EMERGENCY AND TAKE ACTION IS WHAT
IS TO BE ASSESSED.

By taking this lesson into a classroom I compounded the task. Very hard to make it representational. Furthermore, to encourage higher order thinking I wanted the individual to take the place of the teacher and create an initiative test, that is, imagine an emergency- which we can use at the pool to test a fellow class mate.

What would be the clearest way of explaining this to the group?