Friday, February 2. 2018

Today's schedule is A-B-C-D

A Block Law 12 - Today we'll start with an episode of Law & Order. We'll watch "By Perjury" from season 19 (January 2009). A plaintiff in a class-action suit against an airline is murdered. Assistant District Attorney Cutter finds himself pitted against a lawyer whose manipulation of the legal system keeps letting him get away with murder, and Detective Lupo's mistake risks both the case and Cutter's life. After we have a discussion you may work on the questions I had on the blog yesterday, from page 21 of the All About Law textbook:

• Question 2 How did the English common law system develop? 
• Question 3 How is the rule of precedent used in today’s system of law? and 
• Question 5 Explain the significance of statute law as a source of law? 

B Block Introduction to Law 10 - Remember, you need to create your own theory of why crime happens. Use the handout I gave you on crime theories and for more help check out the Crime Theory Web Site found on this link.

After some time, we'll share your own theories of why crime happens (yes I'd like to have volunteers rather than voluntolds). We'll see if there are any similarities amongst the different theories we made and try to understand just what that may mean.

Lastly, I'll ask you to create an interview where you are a famous Canadian criminologist being interviewed by George Stroumboulopoulos on his CBC television show. What you'll need to do is come up with some crazy, creepy or absurdly normal crime that gained huge notoriety in Canada (murder, treason, assault, embezzlement, kidnapping, criminal harassment - AKA stalking, drug trafficking, gang related activities or some minor crime perpetrated by a major Canadian celebrity - oh just imagine Justin Bieber being charged with what). After you create a crime story idea, you'll need to have five questions that George will ask you (no "what's your name" doesn't count as one). Try to come up with questions that you can reasonably answer within three to four sentences..."So what do you think motivated (person X) to commit (action Y)"?

What should this look like? A brief paragraph that introduces the crime and gives a brief biography of you is the start. Next write out the five questions George will ask you about the crime, the perpetrator, the kind of person who commits that crime, the motives of that person, an explanation of your personal crime theory and then try to answer them using your theory.

Here's an example of what George does for the "bio" (this could be your intro paragraph, right?)



C Block Criminology 12 - Today we'll continue with a brief history of criminology (from B.C.E up to and including the current theories). For Tuesday, you need to create your own theory of why crime happens. To end the class we'll watch a really cool video on the roots of violence from NOVA called Inside the Mind of a Rampage Killer...

What makes a person walk into a theater or a church or a classroom full of students and open fire? What combination of circumstances compels a human being to commit the most inhuman of crimes? Can science in any way help us understand these horrific events and provide any clues as to how to prevent them in the future? As the nation tries to understand the tragic events at Newtown, NOVA correspondent Miles O’Brien separates fact from fiction, investigating new theories that the most destructive rampage killers are driven most of all, not by the urge to kill, but the wish to die. Could suicide–and the desire to go out in a media-fueled blaze of glory–be the main motivation? How much can science tell us about the violent brain?  Most importantly, can we recognize dangerous minds in time—and stop the next Newtown?

D Block Human Geography 11 - Okay so I'm not a huge watch-a-"list" video kind of teacher (you know like buzzfeed's "top 10 ________ that will make you ______") but our topic for the day is "Why is each point on Earth unique?" I do like the opening for the Netflix series Sense8 as an example of the diversity of regions and for an visual explanation of why each point on earth is unique...

There are some good things to help with the concept in The Richest's "The Most Beautiful Places in the World" list video

We'll figure out the difference between place and region (hint think scale) and talk about toponyms, site and situation and look at the differences between formal, functional and vernacular regions. You'll have two questions to work on for me:

How do people shape places? How do places shape people?

Lastly, I'll ask you to map out the locations of McDonalds, Tim Horton’s, Starbucks, A&W, and Subway in the Comox Valley and I want you to identify a pattern (if there is one) and to explain why that pattern exists using the geography terms site, situation, and region.

Thursday, February 1. 2018

Today's schedule is D-C-B-A

D Block Human Geography 11 - Today we'll finish up out themes of geography and take a look at our key question Why is each point on Earth unique? We'll figure out the difference between place and region (hint think scale) and talk about toponyms, site and situation and look at the differences between formal, functional and vernacular regions.

C Block Criminology 12 - Today we'll finish our brief history of criminology (from B.C.E up to and including the current theories). For Monday, you need to create your own theory of why crime happens.

B Block Introduction to Law 10 - Today you'll read through Suzanne's story and then list out all of the "social exclusions" that led to her life of crime and all of the "economic exclusions" that led to her life of crime. This will be on the handout I gave you yesterday. The back of the handout is on Crime Theories. I'd like you to look at the questions on the page and put a check mark (if you agree) or an x (if you disagree) next to the question. I need you to evaluate them (what you like about them and what you disagree with them about)...don't worry we'll go through them together in class today. After, you'll have to create your own theory of why crime happens. Use the brainstormed list we did in class along with the handouts you received today and yesterday. I'll place more info on the blog tomorrow.

A Block Law 12 - Today we'll jump back in to our Introduction to Law unit, first by quickly reviewing the five functions of law along with the divisions of Public (criminal, constitutional, and administrative) and Private law (tort, family, contract, property, and labour law). Next, we'll look at Hammurabi, Mosaic law, Common law, Precedent and Case law. Finally, we'll look at Precedent and Case law. We'll work on understanding case citations (R. v. Kerr, 2004, and Grant v. Dempsey, 2001). We'll discuss the "rule of law" and quickly review the Social Studies 11 topics of our constitution and how laws are made.

I'll have you work on questions from page 21 of the All About Law textbook:

• Question 2 How did the English common law system develop? 
• Question 3 How is the rule of precedent used in today’s system of law? and 
• Question 5 Explain the significance of statute law as a source of law? 

For more on how to read case studies check out:
Reading a Legal Citation Queens University
Legal Citation Guide UBC
Scroll down to Case Citation on this PowerPoint from New Learner
Duhaime.org Legal Citations Guide

Wednesday, January 31. 2018

Today's schedule is B-A-D-C-Flex

B Block 9:00 – 10:00
AG 10:05 – 10:15
A Block 10:20 – 11:20
Lunch 11:20 – 12:00
D Block 12:05 – 1:05
C Block 1:10 – 2:10
Personalized Learning 2:10 – 3:15

B Block Introduction to Law 10 - Today we'll finish up yesterday's Think-Pair-Share activity and then you'll get two handouts on Crime Theories. The first handout will be on Economic exclusion and Social exclusion where you'll read a fictional story about "Suzanne" and will need to identify the factors that led her to a life of crime. Read through the story and then list out all of the "social exclusions" that led to Suzanne's life of crime and all of the "economic exclusions" that led to Suzanne's life of crime.

The second handout will be on Crime Theories. I'd like you to look at the questions on the first page and put a check mark (if you agree) or an x (if you disagree) next to the question. I need you to evaluate them (what you like about them and what you disagree with them about)...don't worry we'll go through them together in class today.

A Block Law 12 - Today, we will continue our discussion on why we have laws and figure out the difference between what is legal what is moral and what is ethical...hint look at yesterday's entry :) We'll then jump in to our
Introduction to Law unit by looking at the five functions of law (establishing standards, maintaining order, resolving disputes, protecting society and protecting liberties and rights) and the divisions of Public (criminal, constitutional, and administrative) and Private law (tort, family, contract, property, and labour law). Lastly we'll take a look at the differences between Substantive and Procedural Law.

D Block Human Geography 11 - Yesterday we looked at our first key question, "How do Geographers describe where things are?". We briefly looked at scale and projection connected to the "language" of geography...maps. Today, in order to get ready for our next three key questions (Why is each point on Earth unique?, Why are different places similar? and Why are some human actions not sustainable?) we'll look at  the Five Themes of Geography (Location, Place, Human-Environment Interactions, Movement, and Regions).

C Block Criminology 12 - Today I want you to back in your pod/groupings so that you can try to see where your crime theory categorized clusters (similar categories) fit in terms of Choice, Trait, Social Structure, Social Learning, and Conflict theories. After this, we'll begin our look at the nature vs. nurture debate by focusing on the history of psychological and sociological criminology (from B.C.E up to and including the current theories,which will help you with your first activity in the course). I'll give you a handout to help you with crime theories and tomorrow we'll talk about what your first activity will be.


Flex - I'll be available in Room 611/115 to help Semester 1 Human or Physical Geography students or Criminology students. Check MyEdBC to see what you're missing  and let's get 'r dun!

Tuesday, January 30. 2018

Today's schedule is C-D-A-B

C Block Criminology 12 - Welcome to Criminology 12. Today we will go through the course outline package and see what crimes we have in store for the semester. In this course we look at crime theories and crime typology. The first three weeks of term 3 see us look at a general history of crime, big ideas about why people commit crime and thoughts on why people become victims of crime. The rest of the term then focuses on crime typologies: violent crimes; property crimes; white collar/enterprise/business crimes; organized/gang crimes; and crimes of a social nature (gambling, drug use, sex trade). Each week we spend Monday in the library working on an on-line crime blog while each Friday we'll watch an episode of CSI, Law & Order, Criminal Minds, White Collar, Leverage, Elementary or another crime television program (but there's always a question about what you watch). So...

Today, I have one question that I'd like you to brainstorm: Why do people commit crime?

After a few minutes I'd like you to partner up and get your ideas on a large sheet of paper. After you collect all of your ideas on large sheets of paper with smelly felts, I'd like you to cluster (group) your reasons why people commit crime into categories (emotions, poverty, culture, etc...) and see what biological factors and sociological factors may contribute to crime. We'll then share your ideas together as a class and see if there are any common ideas that we may have and we'll try to see where your clusters fit in terms of Choice, Trait, Social Structure, Social Learning, and Conflict theories

D Block Human Geography 11 - Welcome to Human Geography 11...the second most important class you'll ever take in your life. Today we will go through the course outline package and become familiar with the routines and structures of room 611 (I flat out refuse to call it room 115). We will take the class to orient ourselves to the curriculum and the course outline.

Human geographers ask two simple questions: Where are people and activities found on Earth? Why are they found there? So we'll try to work on the Key Question: How do Geographers describe where things are? You'll have two questions to work on for me:

1. Transferring the locations on Earth’s surface is called projection. The problem with projecting a round sphere to a flat plain is that it causes distortion. So, Describe the four types of distortion AND for each type of distortion explain which type of map projection you would use to best minimize the distortion. For help you may use USGS Map Projections
2. GPS is most commonly used for navigation. Pilots of aircraft and ships stay on course with GPS. On land, GPS detects a vehicle’s current position, the motorist programs the desired destination, and GPS provides instructions on how to reach the destination. So, in your everyday life how do you use GPS and how does it affect your activities?

A Block Law 12 - Welcome to Law 12. Today we will go through the course outline package and then we'll talk about career paths that are available with Law. Law 12 is an intense one semester course that deals with the foundation, the structure, and the key principles and concepts of the Canadian legal system. We will try, as much as possible, to cut through the “Legal speak” so that you can simply become a legally literate person. In February we'll look at the foundations of the Canadian legal justice system along with civil and human rights. The rest of the third term sees us look at criminal law in Canada while in term four we'll focus on civil and family law in Canada. Today I'll have you partner up in groups of three and discuss:

1. what is crime (come up with a definition), 
2. why do we have laws (there are five big reasons), 
3. give 15 examples of Canadian Laws - What are Canadians not allowed to do? (without looking at the Criminal Code)
4. what is the difference between what is legal what is moral and what is ethical. 

We'll partner up and get our ideas on big sheets of paper with some smelly felts so that we can have a discussion on the topic...

don't look below yet because that would be unethical...not immoral or illegal
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The Oxford Dictionary defines a crime as 'an action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law'. So we may do something 'wrong' that is not a crime. Lying to a friend may be wrong but it may not be a crime. On the other hand we may do something 'right' which is a crime. So, a crime is a fact, a matter of law. It is not an opinion. As society changes, some actions which used to be criminal, for example, are no longer criminal. Likewise, some actions, such as smoking in covered public places are. Laws are made by the Government, a government we elect democratically, for the good of us all. We may not agree with the law but there are democratic opportunities to change it.

• Morality governs private, personal interactions and different social groups have differing moralities...groups tend to agree (consciously or subconsciously) on a set of rules for how they’ll behave around each other. Things that are considered immoral have personal consequences.
• Ethics governs professional interactions. Codes of professional ethics are often established by professional organizations to help guide members in performing their job functions according to sound and consistent ethical principles. Things that are unethical have professional consequences
• Law governs society as a whole, often dealing with interactions between total strangers. People in a society are subject to the laws that reflect society's collective morals and ethics (that are codified as law). Things that are illegal have personal and social consequences.

B Block Introduction to Law 10 - Welcome to Introduction to Law, also known as Law & Order: Vanier. This term class is a very short but exciting look at criminal law in Canada. The course is organized much like an episode of Law & Order. The first two weeks of the course deal with criminological studies (the study of crime - we will focus on why crime is committed). The next month of the class deals with criminal forensics and detective investigation. The last three weeks of the class deal with the "order" component of Law & Order where we'll follow the process of arrest, trial, and sentencing for crimes committed.

Today, I want you to start by brainstorming a list of all the reasons you can think why someone would commit a crime (you should have a minimum of 10). We'll do this as a Think-Pair-Share activity where you will come up with a list of your own, then partner up with someone and share/compile your lists together into one big list. After you've done this your partner group will get together with another partner group into a group of 4. I will then give you a large sheet of poster paper and you may use markers to combine your lists on the large sheet of poster paper. I'd like you to cluster (group) your reasons why people commit crime into categories (emotions, poverty, culture, etc...) and see what biological factors and sociological factors may contribute to crime. We'll then share your ideas together as a class and see if there are any common ideas that we may have.

Monday, January 29. 2018

Well...given what happened last Thursday today is a do-over or reset day. Today will be the last day of Semester 1. So the schedule for today is A-B-C-D. If you need help or need to get things done come to 611/115 this morning because uh you have assignments due and you need to get them to me...

"Do or Do not...there is no try" Sage words from Yoda...so:

In the words of Yoda, “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” So to paraphrase Yoda...“Failing is the path to the dark side. Failing leads to repeating. Repeating leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”


B Block Physical Geography 12 - Today we will watch the rest of the movie Home. We'll talk about the things you can do to address the problems / issues that the movie raises. Think about the title. What is our collective home? Now think about the statement from the beginning of the film...

Listen to me, please. You're like me, a homo sapiens. A wise human. Life; a miracle in the universe appeared around 4 billion years ago and we humans only 200,000 years ago, yet we have succeeded in disrupting the balance so essential to life. Listen carefully to this extraordinary story, which is yours, and decide what you want to do with it.


C Block Human Geography 11 - Today is day 2 of your final exam. If you chose the project option you've got the block to work on your theme park project and if you chose the test option then today you'll be working on the short written answer portion of the test. I know that you are prepared and am certain that you'll do well. Breathe, relax and dazzle me with what you know.

D Block Criminology 12 - Today we'll finish our look at the big picture of crime, media and society 12. Today we'll watch Patrick Jane's "antics" on the Mentalist. We'll watch "Paint it Red" from Season 1 in which a business tycoon's son-in-law is found dead near where a $50 million painting once hung in his father-in-law's office. Jane and the CBI try to find out how he might have been involved and who else is responsible. From TV tropes:

Possessing exceptional knowledge of human behavior, extensive meditative and hypnotic training, a refined memory and superhuman deductive skills, Patrick Jane is one of the most valuable agents of the CBI in the fight against crime. Though technically he's not a cop, just a consultant. The "Great Detective" trope is based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. Of course the BBC did a modern version where Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) solves crimes through sheer intellect and his Sherlock Scan, but is a (self-proclaimed) "high-functioning sociopath" barely kept in check by his friend Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman). In The Mentalist, Patrick Jane does have that "Sherlock Stare" and he confounds his team members and keeps them in the dark about his plans until Voila...crime solved. Jane has what can only be described as potentially a high functioning personality disorder but with supreme intellect that assuredly saves the day for the police who clearly can't do their job properly without his help. Hmmm...sound familiar? Remember Dr. Cal Lightman in Lie to Me?  So to end what can we deduce (Sherlock) from the crime media dramas we watched this week?

Does the media merely reflect society's beliefs that the police are incompetent or does it create an image that we but into? Should we care - is it fine to turn the critical parts of our psyche off and merely be entertained for 44 minutes?...or should we try to find meaning in the message?