project4explanation

Points: 40 Working in groups, and using a wiki, the chat/whiteboard area in Vista8, or a website to capture and share your ideas, devise a technology-rich school day for a particular grade level. For each content area, identify a local or state curriculum standard, identify one task or activity related to that standard that uses some form of technology, explain or describe the task/activity, provide a summary of at least one scholarly resource (journal article or book) that supports using technology in the way that your group suggests (and include APA citation), and indicate whether you think the idea is one that is “tried and true” or “new and innovative” and why. The task/activity can be either something that students interact with (e.g., working with materials that the teacher has already created, using specific content software, finding resources on the Internet), or something that the students create (e.g., creating a presentation, creating a concept map using Inspiration, using a digital video camera to capture a re-enactment of a story). Assume that your group is made up of technology integration specialists, library media specialists, and teachers. Use each other as resources and experts as if you all worked for the same school or school district. Your group is to prepare a document, a website, a wiki, or a presentation for school administrators, the school board, and community members that shows the breadth and depth of technology integration in schools and how technology can help students meet 21st century skills. The content areas that you need to include are:
 * ITEC 4/57430**
 * Computer Applications in Education**
 * Project 4** **Build a technology day**
 * Art
 * English/language arts/reading
 * Foreign language
 * Health
 * Mathematics
 * Music
 * Physical education
 * Science
 * Social studies/history

Here are some technologies for you to consider: For purposes of this assignment, the general definition of “tried and true” is something that students have been doing with technology on a regular basis for several years. Examples of “tried and true” activities include using a word processor to write an essay, creating a PowerPoint presentation, and using the Internet to search for resources. The general definition of “new and innovative” would be an activity that uses newer technology, uses older technologies in new ways, or combines technologies. Examples of “new and innovative” would be having students use their cell phones to text questions to each other or to the teacher about a specific topic, having students listen to a series of podcasts, or having students create an oral history project that combines audio recordings and digital images. You may present your technology-rich day in any way that you want, but the information needs to be conveyed in an organized and logical fashion. Your group may want to consider building a table to present the information, using an outline format, or building a simple website. I encourage you to supplement your project with appropriate and relevant visuals. Table format example: Use physical models, points of reference, and equivalent forms to add and subtract commonly used fractions with like and unlike denominators and decimals. || Internet: Fractions Gizmo available from the Explore Learning website || Students will view a fractions Gizmo online to help them better understand fraction computations || A research report, available at the Explore Learning website, in PDF format, provides research evidence that providing learners with interactive graphics stimulates and increases activity in the brain. See Reference section for APA citation. || NI – This is innovative since the Explore Learning website is relatively new. Teachers need to be aware of this resource and investigate what is available in order to use it effectively. || Outline format example: **Technology:** o Internet: Fractions Gizmo available from the ExploreLearning website ([|http://www.explorelearning.com] ) **Curriculum standard:** o 5th Grade: Number, Number Sense, and Operations: Use physical models, points of reference, and equivalent forms to add and subtract commonly used fractions with like and unlike denominators and decimals. **Description:** o Students will view a fractions Gizmo online to help them better understand fraction computations. The teacher will pre-select appropriate Gizmos for the students to view. **Supporting research:** o A research report, available at the ExploreLearning website in PDF format, provides empirical research evidence that providing learners with interactive graphics stimulates and increases activity in the brain. o APA citation: Cholmsky, P. (2003). Why GIZMOS TM work: Empirical evidence for the instructional effectiveness of ExploreLearning’s interactive content. Charlottesville, VA. Retrieved August 21, 2007 from @http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cCorp.dspResearch **Tried & True or New & Innovative:** o **NI:** This activity is new and innovative because the Explore Learning website is relatively new. The website provides ways for students to visualize processes and concepts. Teachers need to be aware of this resource and investigate what is available in order to use it effectively with students.
 * MP3 players
 * Podcasts
 * Palm pilot
 * Wikis
 * Blogs
 * Cell phone
 * Audience response systems (such as Turning Point)
 * Graphic organizer software (such as Inspiration)
 * Digital camera
 * SmartBoard/interactive whiteboard
 * Games/simulations
 * PowerPoint
 * Spreadsheet
 * Word processor
 * Database
 * Windows Movie Maker
 * Email
 * Internet
 * Research/find information
 * Evaluation of websites
 * Use of digital resources (e.g., digital libraries for images, YouTube, Gizmos)
 * Subject-specific software (e.g., Geometer’s Sketchpad, Oregon Trail, Essay Express)
 * You must begin** with a brief overall description for your technology-rich day including
 * Grade level
 * General description of the students
 * General description of the school
 * General description of the classroom
 * General description of computer facilities in the school
 * You must end** with a summary statement about the technologies included in your technology-rich day and provide a rationale for how these technologies will help students meet 21st century skills.
 * **Content area** || **Curriculum**
 * Standard(s)** || **Technology** || **Description** || **Supporting resource** || **Tried & True (TT)**
 * or**
 * New & Innovative (NI)** ||
 * Mathematics || ** 5th grade, Number, Number Sense, and Operations **
 * Subject: Mathematics**


 * Requirements:**
 * 1) Your project must begin with some type of introduction that provides a general overview of your project, the grade level your group targeted, a general description of students at that grade level, a general description of the school, and a general description of technology facilities.
 * 2) All nine (9) content areas specified above must be included in your final project.
 * 3) Each content area needs to include
 * 4) At least one local or state curriculum/content standard
 * 5) A specific technology, or combination of technologies
 * 6) A description or explanation of the activity or assignment that students will be doing and how they will use technology
 * 7) At least one summary of a scholarly resource that supports the use of technology as specified in your project. Each resource must be from a scholarly journal, book, or a legitimate, authoritative website. APA citation for each resource must be included. The APA citations can be grouped together in one area rather than placed with each content area.
 * 8) Indication of whether the activity/assignment is “tried and true” or “new and innovative” and why your group thinks this is so.
 * 9) Your project needs to end with a summary statement about the technologies included in your technology-rich day and a rationale for how these technologies and activities will help students achieve 21st century skills.
 * 10) Your project needs to demonstrate good use of visual design (e.g., good alignment of information, good use of visual elements such as line and color, good use of supporting visuals).

Projects will be assessed based on the following criteria: **Points** || ||
 * Grading rubric**
 * **Criteria** ||
 * Project contains **all** required elements
 * introduction
 * all content areas, all components for each content area
 * summary ||  3  ||
 * **Quality issues** ||
 * Activities/assignments chosen for each content area are
 * reasonable (i.e., things that students could be expected to do in that content area)
 * do-able in a school setting (i.e., could be completed over one or more days or weeks) and appropriate for the grade level/age of the students
 * align well with the curriculum/content standard(s) identified ||   9  ||
 * Descriptions/explanations are clearly presented so the reader has a solid understanding of what students will be doing and how they will interact with technology. ||  9  ||
 * There is variety in the activities/assignments chosen for the different content areas. For example, searching the Internet is NOT used for multiple content areas. ||  1  ||
 * The summaries of supporting scholarly research choices are top-notch and clearly match the technology and activity. || 9  ||
 * “Tried and true” or “new and innovative” designation and explanation reflects a solid understanding of how technology has been and is currently being used in educational settings. ||  1  ||
 * Introduction captures the interest of the reader and presents a clear picture of the project. The summary provides a solid conclusion for the project and how this technology-rich day will help students achieve 21st century skills. ||  2  ||
 * APA formats for resources are correct. || 1  ||
 * All graphics, if copied from an Internet site or print materials, include appropriate copyright information. For example, if an image is copied and pasted into the project, the URL for that image is also included. ||  1  ||
 * Few, if any, spelling or grammatical errors. Hyperlinks, if used, work correctly. || 1  ||
 * **Creativity**
 * Project shows creativity and new ways of thinking and engaging students. || 1  ||
 * Project is presented in a creative way, using technology effectively to convey the project. || 1  ||
 * Project uses visuals effectively. || 1  ||