Rich Assessment Task: Air Traffic Controller WebQuest

This Rich Performance Task is modeled on the WebQuest format.

m.taylor@ldcsb.on.ca

Introduction:

What is the context for this scenario?

People have always been travellers from one place to another. Throughout history people have always been perfecting their abilities to show locations more and more precisely. People have also been devising transportation vechicles and systems to move themselves more quickly and comfortably from one location to another. With the invention of the airplane, transportation has been revolutionized. On any given day in the present era, commercial aircraft move 2 million people from location to location. The responsibility to do this safely, accurately and economically lies with air traffic controllers.

In this task, you will assume the role of an air traffic controller at Lester B. Pearson International Airport in Toronto.

Your challenge (task)is to prepare flight plans for five commercial aircraft (in bound from five different locations in North America) to land safely at Pearson International Airport at different times.

You will be required to learn, practice and refine your geographical skills by preforming some air traffic controller training exercises before you prepare the required flight plans.

You will also be examining the issue of what happened to the USA air traffic controllers in August 1981.

Before you begin, learn about the job descriptions of air traffic controllers by visiting these sites:

http://travel.howstuffworks.com/air-traffic-control2.htm

http://collections.ic.gc.ca/generation/70jctext/70jc7.htm

Task:

What product(s) will I be creating?

Can you land a helicopter?

Have you ever flown a glider?

What do you know in order to fly a plane?

Your challenge (task)is to prepare flight plans for five commercial aircraft (in bound from five different locations in North America) to land safely at Pearson International airport at different times.

Process:

What steps do I take to complete the task?

As an introduction to this task, review the science of flight by taking time to
Visit LearnAlberta's "The Thrill of Flight" to learn about air properties, gliders, planes, helicopters and much more!
A. Visit the following web sites to learn about the job descriptions of air traffic controllers:
- http://travel.howstuffworks.com/air-traffic-control2.htm
- http://collections.ic.gc.ca/generation/70jctext/70jc7.htm
- http://www.ilc.org/cfmx/CM/Careers/cm_career_bottom.cfm?career_id=376
B. Complete the training exercise1 to master the air vocabulary used by air traffic controllers. Once you complete this exercise, submit the Task Sheet#1 to your teacher for evaluation before you proceed.

Click here to obtain Task Sheet #1.

C. Next complete the training exercise 2 to master the navigational skill of determining distances between air ports using a variety of map scales. Once you complete this exercise 2, submit the Task Sheet#2 to your teacher for evaluation before you proceed.

Click here to obtain Task Sheet #2.

D. Next complete the training exercise 3 to master the skill of determining the absolute location of air ports using a variety of map scales. Once you complete this exercise 3, submit the Task Sheet#3 to your teacher for evaluation before you proceed.

Click here to obtain Task Sheet #3.

E. You should now be sufficiently confident to prepare your first five flight plans as a novice controller. Complete the 5 flight plans for five in-coming aircraft bound for Toronto International airport. Once you complete these flight plans, submit the Task Sheet#4 to your teacher for evaluation.

Click here to obtain Task Sheet #4.

F. Do you know what happened to 90% of USA air traffic controller in August 1981?

Find out what happened! Go here.

G. It is now time for you to take a stand (take a position on an ethical issue)?

Answer this question.

Do you support the former US president's decision to fire the air traffic contollers for going on strike? Why or Why not?

To find out more information to present your argument visit these sites:

http://eightiesclub.tripod.com/id296.htm

http://www.stfrancis.edu/ba/ghkickul/stuwebs/btopics/works/atcstrike.htm

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.unions08jun08,0,1761456.story?coll=bal-business-headlines

Check what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says about the right to work and strikes.

Type in 2434 and 2435 in the search window of this site.

Resources:

What resources will I use to complete the task?

1. An atlas

2. Google Maps: Images of Pearson International Airport from space

3. A blank Map of North America

4. The 4 Task Sheets.

5. pencils, paper and ruler

6. Geography Textbook

7. Visit LearnAlberta's "The Thrill of Flight" to learn more about the Science of Flight

Evaluation:

How will my learning be evaluated?

Students should be able to refer to the rubric for the assignment. They may also link to self-assessment tools in this space. Our best guide, would be to use a rubric such as the one below for 'individuals', while finding a way to provide real world feedback to the 'group'.

SSHG Achievement Chart for Grades 1 to 8

Categories	LeLevel 1 Level 11	Level 2	LLevel 3 evel 3	Level 4 Level 4
Knowledge and Understanding
	The student:
Task Sheet #1 Knowledge of terms and definitions involved in the task	• demonstrates limited knowledge of terms	• demonstrates some knowledge of terms	• demonstrates a good knowledge of terms	• demonstrates thorough knowledge of terms
Thinking
	The student:
Task Sheet#2 Use of the mapping skill of using map scales to determine distance	• uses mapping skills with inconsistent accuracy	• uses mapping skills with some accuracy	• uses mapping skills with consistent accuracy	• uses mapping skills with excellent proficiency and mastery
Task Sheet#3 Use of the mapping skill of using latitude and longitude to determine absolute locations of airports in North America to determine distance	• uses this mapping skill with inconsistent accuracy	• uses this mapping skill with some accuracy	• uses this mapping skill with consistent accuracy	• uses this mapping skill with excellent proficiency and mastery

Communication
	The student:
Supporting a Point of View Expresses ideas and information effectively and persuasively to argue for or against the 1981 decision to fire American air traffic controlllers	• expresses and organizes ideas and information with limited effectiveness . point of view was supported with very little factual information	• expresses and organizes ideas and information with some effectiveness . point of view was supported with some factual information	• expresses and organizes ideas and information with considerable effectiveness . point of view was supported with appropriate factual information	• expresses and organizes ideas and information with a high degree of effectiveness . point of view was supported with numerous references to factual information
Application
	The student:
Task Sheet #4 Effectively and consistently ransfers knowledge and skills to the new context of preparing flight plans for inbound planes to Pearson International airport	• transfers knowledge and skills to new contexts with limited effectiveness	• transfers knowledge and skills to new contexts with some effectiveness	• transfers knowledge and skills to new contexts with considerable effectiveness	• transfers knowledge and skills to new contexts with a high degree of effectiveness

Teacher Comments:

Refer to the 'draft' Ontario Ministry of Education Achievement Chart for Science & Technology.

Conclusion:

What have I learned?

Think about what you have accomplished in the completion of this task.

What have you learned?
Did anything in this task trouble you?
What did you learn about the rights of workers to have their job-related difficulties resolved?
What did you learn about the careers of air traffic controllers? Would you consider this as a career? Why? Why not?.

If you are interested in learning more about this subject matter, you can find related hyperlinks at Student Links 2 on the LDCSB "Intranet" Website.

* Note: This link is not licensed for home use by students

Credits & References:

What was the inspiration for this task?

List here the sources of any images, music or text that you're using (with permission, of course). Provide links back to the original source. Say thanks to anyone who provided resources, help or inspiration.

List any books and other analog media that you used as source information as well.

Publication & Copyright Details

Last updated on December 4, 2006.

This Rich Performance Task is modeled on the WebQuest format.

Keywords: Rich Performance Task, Air traffic controller, Air planes, Location, Mapping skills, Flight plan, Longitude, Latitude, Time zone, Strikes, Union, Labour, WebQuest