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Deeper Learning Competencies
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Effective Communication
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- I can listen closely to others and take notes that capture the main ideas and feelings they share so I can respond in a respectful way
- I can communicate my TED Talk message clearly and respectfully, using evidence from my notes or research to support what I say.
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- I can listen to understand by asking clarifying questions and summarizing what I heard, including how someone’s experiences shape their perspective
- I can communicate with empathy by choosing words and examples that fairly represent people’s viewpoints and by using credible sources to explain my ideas in my TED Talk.
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- I can listen for patterns across interviews and discussions, then synthesize those insights into a message that shows accuracy, fairness, and empathy
- I can communicate my learning through both speaking and slides by organizing my story for impact and purposefully integrating evidence, quotes, and photos to deepen understanding.
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- I can listen actively and adapt my message in response to feedback and audience questions, demonstrating awareness of differing community experiences
- I can communicate powerfully and ethically by crafting a compelling TED Talk that connects my claim to strong evidence and personal story, while reflecting on how my voice and choices influence how others understand the issue.
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Deeper Learning Competencies
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Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
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- I can ask focused questions about a Chicago community issue and identify at least one possible cause and effect using information I collect from class materials or sources I find with support.
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- I can compare multiple sources (e.g., current events, primary sources, and interviews) to explain the interconnected causes and effects of the issue, and I can choose a claim that fits the evidence I gathered.
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- I can evaluate the credibility and relevance of evidence, identify root causes and counterpoints, and refine my reasoning to propose realistic options for change that match the needs and lived experiences I documented.
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- I can synthesize research and interview data into a clear, well-supported solution path, justify why my approach would likely help the community, and revise my thinking using feedback to strengthen accuracy, empathy, and impact.
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Deeper Learning Competencies
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Collaboration
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- I can participate in group work by listening to peers, sharing my ideas respectfully, and following agreed-upon roles and discussion norms during planning and feedback sessions.
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- I can co-design parts of the project with my peers by proposing solutions, asking clarifying questions, and using peer feedback to make specific improvements to our TED Talk decisions and materials.
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- I can exercise shared decision-making by negotiating tradeoffs, incorporating others’ perspectives, and resolving disagreements productively while explaining how my choices connect to the project’s purpose and evidence.
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- I can lead and coordinate collaboration by facilitating roles and next steps, synthesizing group input into clear actions, and reliably building a respectful, empathetic team culture that strengthens our collective impact.
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Deeper Learning Competencies
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Content Expertise
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- I can explain my chosen Chicago issue using a few credible sources and key facts, and I can connect those details to what I learned from interviews or observations
- I can identify basic cause-and-effect ideas and share them in my TED Talk plan or notes with minimal missing information.
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- I can develop a clear understanding of my issue by synthesizing multiple credible sources (including primary/local information) and connecting them to lived experiences I gathered
- I can use evidence to describe relevant causes and effects and accurately represent different perspectives in my TED Talk script and slides.
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- I can deepen my content expertise by evaluating evidence for accuracy, relevance, and bias and using interviews/photos to strengthen my explanation
- I can craft a well-supported claim that explains root causes and consequences, and I can revise my message using feedback to improve the clarity and precision of my content.
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- I can demonstrate advanced content expertise by building an insightful, research-backed TED Talk that integrates credible data, local context, and lived experiences into a coherent argument
- I can anticipate common misunderstandings about the issue and use strong evidence and explanations to address them confidently in my delivery, slides, and Q&A responses.
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Deeper Learning Competencies
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Self Directed Learning
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- I can use feedback from my teacher and peers to revise parts of my TED Talk and record what changed (for example, clarifying my claim, adding evidence, or improving my slides)
- I can check my work against a checklist of expectations and use it to make at least one purposeful improvement.
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- I can actively seek and apply feedback to improve my TED Talk by making specific, explained changes to my reasoning, evidence, or storytelling
- I can track my progress over time (through notes, drafts, or reflection prompts) and set a next-step goal for what I will improve in the next rehearsal or research session.
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- I can direct my own learning by using feedback plus self-reflection data (rehearsal recordings, audience comments, or my notes) to identify patterns in what I need to strengthen
- I can revise independently and justify my decisions with references to evidence and feedback, creating a clear plan for my next iteration.
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- I can consistently monitor and manage my learning by setting goals, using feedback strategically, and adjusting my plan to increase the clarity, empathy, and impact of my message
- I can evaluate my TED Talk as a whole—claim, evidence, delivery, and audience understanding—then make and explain advanced revisions that show strong ownership of learning.
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Deeper Learning Competencies
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Academic Mindset
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- I can identify how my personal experiences, identities, and neighborhood context connect to the Chicago issue I’m researching, and I can describe my role in learning with a clear goal for what I want to understand or influence
- I can use sentence starters or a template to reflect on what I’m learning and how it helps me feel more connected and capable.
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- I can explain how my lived experience and perspectives shape the questions I ask and the evidence I choose, and I can state a specific, achievable next step for improving my TED Talk or research
- I can use feedback and reflection to adjust my thinking, strengthen my sense of belonging, and increase my confidence in my ideas for community impact.
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- I can connect multiple aspects of my identity and community context to my claims about causes and effects, and I can articulate how my stance could help or exclude different audiences in Chicago
- I can track my growth across phases by using evidence from my drafts, interviews, and reflections to justify changes I make, showing increasing self-efficacy and responsibility for my learning.
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- I can independently sustain a growth mindset by setting and revising goals based on evidence of my progress, including how my thinking evolves through research, interviews, and peer critique
- I can reflect critically on how my voice and choices affect understanding and belonging for others, and I can take purposeful action to refine my message so it meaningfully supports youth and community change.
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