EDUS516

=__EDUS516 Independent Project__= ==** __OJO: ESTUDIANTES DE ESPANOL 2: THIS IS NOT THE SET OF INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR CULMINATING PROJECT... DO NOT USE THESE... Please visit Spanish 2 Field Trip your final project. Gracias!__ **==

Article
=__//Introduction: A Virtual Field Trip to Latin America!//__= //¡Que suerte!// A generous benefactor has donated a large sum of money to the Spanish 2 class to take a trip to any Latin American country of your choosing! You and your group will be given a budget of $3000 per person to spend on your transportation, hotel and food, activities, souvenirs and anything else on your journey. You must spend a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 1 month in your country of choice. Take full advantage of the wonderful sites, sounds, foods and experiences your chosen destination has to offer! And don’t forget about the details! You’ll have to consider everything from currency exchange, budgeting, health concerns, and much more. Be safe and have fun!

Group Tasks:
As you embark on your journey, you will need to work with your group to decide on some details. First and foremost: You will have to budget! You will visit at least 4 cities and stay in each one for at least 3 days each. Each person has a budget of $3000 to cover them for transportation, food, lodging, activities, and souvenirs for the duration of their stay. The group is responsible for creating a detailed travel itinerary including prices for each day of their trip and descriptions of the places they visit. All information collected during the quest should be kept in a three ring binder that will be presented for grading. Your group will also put together a powerpoint of your travels to be presented to the class in espanol at the end of your journey. Bear in mind that while everyone may have different roles, you will all have to work together to budget and plan so that your trip (and project!) is successful and enjoyable. __Here are your 2 main group tasks:__ //**1. Travel Journal:**// The group will be responsible for creating a travel journal in a three ring binder. Each person will have their own section to put in all of their findings in addition to the group section. The group’s section will include the following: -A daily itinerary of your trip including prices and costs of excursions -A brief overview of the country you are going to and why you chose it. -Descriptions, information, photos of the places you will visit. -Foods, including photos and descriptions, that you will likely be eating and the hotels you will stay in. -Any “realia” you encounter on your journey, including money, event admission tickets, pamphlets, photos, etc. (Note: plenty of these realia can be found doing a simple search on Google) __**Group Member Roles:**__ //Agente de Viajes:// The travel agent is responsible for arranging all of the transportation, including airfare and ground transportation, passports, currency, travel advisories (such as vaccinations and health risks). S/he must also arrange accommodations and be aware of hurricane seasons and weather issues. You will decide where the group stays each night during your trip. Plan wisely! It may be tempting to book a 5 start hotel, but keep in mind that you have to budget airfare, food, and other expenses for the length of your stay. You will need to take into account the exchange rates for the US dollar and currency of your country. -Book your departure and return flights. Be sure to research the best deal! -Obtain passports and any other required travel documentation. -Research the currency exchange rates and any health or travel advisories. -Book accommodations and research ground transportation in each city you will visit. -Add your findings to the Travel Journal. //Experta Cultural//: The cultural guide researches the cultural characteristics so as to be able to provide information to the group on the history and people of the places you visit. Your job is unique in that you will be the cultural liaison between the “gringo” (United States) way of doing things and the Latin American way of doing things. It is your duty to educate the group on social interactions, customs, and “the way things are” in your group’s destination. -Research common customs and practices of your country -Research the history, dances, art forms, music, and sports you will encounter on your trip. -Report on the political and social climate of the country as well as staying safe while traveling abroad. -Collect various souvenirs, brochures, pamphlets, articles, etc that relate to the culture of your country. -Add your findings to the travel journal. //Agente de Viajes//: The planner takes care of all the research and planning of the different activities the group will do while in your country. These will include museums, archeological sites, restaurants and food, cultural events, and the costs incurred by each activity. The organizer will also have to stay informed about the weather and seasonal conditions (ie. Hurricane season) to prepare for everything you might encounter. -Plan a visit to at least 1 historical site (ex. Chichen Itza, Machu Pichu, etc) -Include at least 1 visit to an art museum or exhibit or a location where a country specific craft/ artifact is produced -Research the weather and write up a packing list en español of items the group will need on their trip. -Plan for any emergencies or rough spots the group may encounter, such as someone losing their passport. -Add your findings to the Travel Journal //Experta Culinaria//: The culinary expert is in charge of researching the typical dishes of the country and planning when and where the group will eat. You’ll need to budget as well as consider any dietary restrictions group members may have. -Research the kinds of traditional dishes you will eat, national delicacies, and where and how much it typically costs to eat in a restaurant -Choose a typical dish from that country and write up a shopping list en espanol so that your group can recreate it when you return to the states. -Work with the activity planner to plan a trip to a local market where you could buy ingredients and sample local produce. -Research and inform your group of any dietary hazards (such as not drinking the water in Mexico). -Add your findings to the Travel Journal. Questions to Consider: 1. What are the necessary documents and requirements needed to travel to a foreign country? 2. What would happen in the case of an emergency? Who do we contact for help and what can we do before departure in order to be prepared for the worst case scenario? 3. Do we need any shots or travelers’ insurance? 4. As we are foreigners in a different country, what is the best way that we can represent our home nation? How can we be respectful of the different customs and values?
 * //2. Power Point//**: Additionally, your group will create a power point presentation to show the class everything you did and saw on your trip. Make it colorful and be sure to include photos, sample itinerary including sample costs for 1 day in your country, information on food and culture, and anything else you found to be interesting and exciting.

Wiki Analysis
Is it clear to read and navigate? Yes, everything is clearly explained and easy to navigate · Does the structure of the site follow a logical pattern? I’m not entirely sure, since wiki automatically alphabetizes your categories. It seems to follow a logical pattern. · Does the site draw people in? I believe it does. I have a fun looking Glog up that has a bunch of pictures of Latin American artifacts and money. · Are there pictures or other visuals? Yes, I have a Slide show on one page of pictures from my travels. · Does the site look complete or does it appear “thrown together?” I feel there are definitely things I could improve upon, but it is definitely well planned out and functional. · Does the information on the site relate to a class or and its educational content? Yes, I frequently use the site for my current classes as well as to provide some outside cultural and local resources. · Is the information easily available (directly written or downloadable)? Yes, almost all of my material is either written on the page or has a link to download the file. · Is there a variety of information? There is a lot of different info for my classes as well as on me personally, my teaching philosophy, educational resources, etc. · Are there links to related sources and sites? Yes, please see previous. · Are there too many links without providing needed information for students? I think all links, for the most part, are clearly explained. They are even bilingual. · Is there an easy way to contact the teacher? No, there isn’t and I realize that. I’m going to fix that. · Are there ways to leave messages, ask questions, or discuss information and topics? You can email me through the wiki site, but I prefer not to allow people to edit/ post anything on the site. · Is the information up-to-date in relation to class work and homework assignments? Yes, everything is in keeping with the schedule for class and you can even back track if you scroll. · Does the page contain a reference stating “last updated on…?” Not directly, but I do have a news section that I update as often as possible. I also have info for current class projects and assignments that include due dates. · Are assignments posted? Yes, I constantly use this site to direct students toward assignment requirements and rubrics. · Is a class syllabus or outline posted? Yes. · What do you like most about the site? I like my Glog because it’s pretty. I also like that I include my teaching philosophy. · What do you like least about the site? I wish there was a way to really play with how things are set up and organized. Wiki doesn’t allow that, however.