Learning Goals & Products

Learning Goals

1

Students will be able to formulate a focused investigative question about the Bally’s Chicago casino debate to guide unbiased reporting.

2

Students will be able to analyze biased and balanced coverage of the Chicago casino issue to distinguish reporting from advocacy.

3

Students will be able to gather and document evidence from interviews, field observations, maps, and public data to build a credible investigation record.

4

Students will be able to evaluate source credibility and missing perspectives in reporting on the casino’s economic and social tradeoffs.

5

Students will be able to interpret patterns in evidence to justify claims about the casino’s likely benefits and harms.

6

Students will be able to collaboratively discuss competing viewpoints and revise conclusions based on new evidence and questioning.

Products

individual

Individual Casino Investigation Notebook

A research notebook that documents each student’s investigation question, method choices, interview or observation notes, source evaluations, raw evidence, and personal analysis. It proves individual mastery of unbiased reporting and evidence-based reasoning.

team

Tangle-Style Chicago Casino Investigative Podcast and Briefing Dossier

A team-produced podcast segment and companion dossier that synthesize members’ evidence into a balanced report with clear claims, counterclaims, methodology, visuals, and limitations. It must show how the team reconciled conflicting findings and why its reporting approach fits the question.

Rubric
Competency Progression Rubric Competency-first rubric
Category
Learning Goal
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Deeper Learning Competencies
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
  • I can identify key claims, risks, and potential benefits in the Chicago casino debate and sort them into “evidence-based” versus “assumption/opinion.” I can use what I learn from interviews, articles, and documents to explain how one piece of evidence supports or challenges a claim.
  • I can generate a focused research question about the Bally’s Chicago casino tradeoffs and narrow or broaden it as I gather information
  • I can compare multiple sources in different formats and evaluate credibility (bias, missing perspectives, or accuracy) to decide which evidence is strongest for answering my question.
  • I can synthesize evidence across interviews, city documents, and reporting into a balanced analysis that clearly separates verified facts from competing arguments
  • I can justify my reasoning by linking each conclusion to specific, credible evidence and by addressing at least two plausible counterarguments.
  • I can independently refine an investigation plan and produce an unbiased, decision-ready analysis of complex tradeoffs (e.g., revenue vs
  • addiction risks, traffic impacts, and unequal neighborhood effects)
  • I can use strategic digital evidence presentation (e.g., audio/visual/audio snippets or structured dossier claims) to show nuanced reasoning and demonstrate how my conclusions change when new credible evidence is introduced.
Deeper Learning Competencies
Effective Communication
  • I can participate in collaborative discussions about the Bally’s Chicago casino debate by listening to others, responding respectfully, and clearly sharing my own ideas using evidence I have documented
  • I can ask and answer clarifying questions so the group understands key points and differing perspectives.
  • I can lead parts of collaborative discussions by building on others’ ideas, expressing my own claims clearly and persuasively, and citing specific evidence from interviews, reports, and documents
  • I can integrate information from multiple media (e.g., audio/visual/text) to explain how sources support or challenge each other, while naming credibility and possible bias.
  • I can synthesize multiple sources into a balanced explanation for my podcast and debate dossier by connecting evidence to claims about fiscal benefits and social risks (e.g., addiction, traffic, small business impacts, unequal neighborhood effects)
  • I can revise my communication based on feedback and listening protocols so my reasoning is clearer, my facts are more accurate, and my conclusions transparently reflect tradeoffs.
  • I can independently communicate an unbiased, audience-ready analysis by presenting verified facts, clearly attributed competing arguments, and a transparent, evidence-based conclusion tailored to a Chicago audience
  • I can strategically use digital media elements (audio structure, framing, and visuals/graphics when appropriate) to strengthen understanding, and I can respond to audience questions in ways that reflect active listening, fairness, and strong research synthesis.
Deeper Learning Competencies
Collaboration
  • I can participate in group discussions about the Bally’s casino debate by sharing my ideas clearly and responding respectfully to classmates, building on others’ points when they help our shared understanding
  • I can follow group roles and norms (e.g., turn-taking, evidence check) during teacher-led or one-on-one collaboration.
  • I can collaborate with diverse partners to investigate the casino debate by asking focused questions, listening to understand, and integrating others’ perspectives into our shared research plan
  • I can contribute evidence from at least two sources (including oral or digital media) while stating what each source supports and how it connects to our inquiry.
  • I can lead parts of a collaborative discussion by synthesizing multiple perspectives into a balanced claim, clearly separating verified facts from arguments and uncertainties
  • I can coordinate with my group to refine our research dossier/podcast with targeted feedback (from interviews, maps/data, and reporting) and make decisions about what evidence to trust and why.
  • I can independently facilitate effective collaboration by using strategic discussion moves (summarizing, probing for missing viewpoints, and mediating disagreements) to strengthen fairness and accuracy
  • I can help the group revise our final investigative product by integrating credibility-evaluated evidence across formats (oral, written, visual/quantitative, and audio) and clearly explaining how our conclusion reflects shared decision-making.
Deeper Learning Competencies
Content Expertise
  • I can ask a focused research question about the Bally’s casino debate and identify key evidence categories (revenue, risks, community impacts) to guide my investigation
  • I can explain what I found using information from a few sources and note obvious gaps or missing perspectives I still need to look for.
  • I can refine my research question as I learn and gather information from multiple credible sources in different formats (articles, reports, maps/data, and interviews)
  • I can summarize and compare key claims, distinguishing what is verified from what is argued, and I can explain how the evidence supports both benefits and harms.
  • I can synthesize evidence across sources and media to build a balanced, well-supported argument that answers my question and shows tradeoffs (including unequal neighborhood impacts and community well-being)
  • I can evaluate credibility and bias in sources/interviews, incorporate the strongest counterpoints, and revise my dossier/podcast notes to correct omissions or misinterpretations.
  • I can independently direct a sustained, multi-source investigation by narrowing/broadening my inquiry based on what the evidence shows
  • I can produce a clear, transparent synthesis for a Chicago audience that integrates verified facts, competing stakeholder arguments, and missing perspectives, using strategic audio/digital choices to strengthen understanding and persuasively explain my conclusion while maintaining an unbiased tone.
Deeper Learning Competencies
Academic Mindset
  • I can explain my initial thinking about the Bally’s Chicago casino debate and ask a research question I will investigate using a few credible sources
  • I can identify which parts of my evidence support claims and which parts still need more information.
  • I can refine my research question based on what I find and gather additional sources (including interviews and digital/text/audio materials) to compare perspectives on revenue and risks like addiction and traffic
  • I can evaluate the credibility of each source and describe how it connects to specific parts of my reasoning.
  • I can synthesize evidence from multiple media formats to build a balanced research dossier that clearly separates verified facts from competing arguments and identifies missing perspectives
  • I can narrow or broaden the inquiry to address gaps and justify my final focus with evidence from the research process.
  • I can independently and strategically conduct a sustained investigation to answer my question, transparently tracking how new evidence changed my conclusions and what tradeoffs remain unresolved
  • I can produce an analysis-ready product (e.g., podcast script and debate dossier) that accurately integrates diverse, credible sources and demonstrates strong understanding of the issue for a Chicago audience.