HANDS-ON PROJECT INFORMATION

• Introduction.
• Seed ideas for the course project.
• Guidelines for creating a great project.
• Rubric for grading the project.
• Assistance from Dr. Steve.

Introduction

• Determine if you will work alone or with a small group.
• Determine if you would like to prepare a lesson using technology OR explore a newer technology more in-depth.
1. Prepare a Lesson Using Technology
• Create the following resources:
  1. Create a PowerPoint OR a flipchart through ActivInspire to present material.
  2. Use Word to describe a technology-based homework assignment that will allow your students to demonstrate their learning in a nontraditional way (e.g., digital story, prepare a book in StoryJumper or Storybird , develop a shared Google Doc, or other creative assignment).
  3. Create a rubric to assess the creative project by using Rubistar.
• If you work in a group of 3, create an additional teaching resource utilizing an additional tool (such as a spreadsheet, a Web page, a class game such as Kahoot or Jeopardy-like game, a virtual/augmented reality activity, etc.).
• Note: The lesson should use the capabilities provided in PowerPoint and/or ActivInspire software to clearly teach the lesson, and not merely provide special effects with no educational value. Remember to design the lesson so that a teacher could use it while teaching. Ensure that it meets with design standards and UDL recommendations.
2. Explore a Newer Technology More In-depth
• Select a newer technology to explore:
• Virtual Reality
• Augmented Reality
• Scratch programming
• Several (two per group member) teaching tools from a teaching tool collection (e.g., SuperTeacherTools.us, 4Teachers.org, TheTeachersCorner.net, ClassTools.net).
• Explore and experiment with the technology. Then select two of the following to complete:
  1. Create an activity in which you use the technology in teaching. Then create a lesson plan and/or describe how you would use the technology in the classroom.
  2. Create an assignment that you would give to students involving this technology.
  3. Describe in a Word document what you learned from your exploration of this technology. How could you use it in teaching?
• If using Scratch programming, create a Scratch program and describe how you might use this technology in the classroom.

Seed ideas for the course project

• Instruct students about the harmful effects of an addictive behavior, such as:
  • Smoking.
  • Using drugs.
  • Gambling.
  • Unhealthy diet/lack of exercise.
  • Watching too much TV.
• Instruct on a mathematical concept:
  • How to count.
  • What fractions are about.
  • How to subtract with borrowing.
• Instruct in language arts:
  • Thoroughly teach a story.
  • Demonstrate how to write or read poetry.
  • Help students understand a part(s) of speech.
• Instruct in science:
  • Planets in the solar system.
  • Understanding the water cycle.
  • Lifecycle of a butterfly.
• Instruct in history/social studies:
  • Appreciating diversity.
  • Abraham Lincoln, Christopher Columbus, or other historical figure.
  • Native American culture.
  • A battle/war.
• Instruct how to do something:
  • How to purchase a computer or other technological device.
  • How to play chess.
  • How to play baseball or other sport.
  • How to plan a trip to Disney World.

Guidelines for Creating a Great Project

1. What a good project should contain:
   • PowerPoint:
     • PP should contain enough slides to thoroughly teach the topic. (The number of slides does not matter. Effectively get the job done.)
     • Follow UDL guidelines (e.g., ensure text is readable over backgrounds, text is large enough to read, screen is not overcrowded).
     • Create speakers notes to provide material for a teacher to discuss while displaying PP slides.
     • Utilize multimedia elements as needed to effectively teach the topic.
     • Utilize links (through action buttons) to outside Web resources to enrich the lesson.

   • ActivInspire for Promethean board:
     • Make an interactive experience (pull objects out of a graphic, have responses rejected with a container).
     • Create a link to an outside resource (Web page, YouTube video).
     • Incorporate a teaching resource (gadget, teaching template) to enrich the student experience.
     • Use backgrounds to increase interest.

   • Excel:
     • Use Excel to demonstrate some aspect of your topic. Remember that Excel has the power to graphically demonstrate a topic to students in ways that PowerPoint, text-based materials, and verbal teaching cannot.

2. What a good project should avoid:
   • AVOID placing bullets with whole paragraphs on a PP slide. INSTEAD: use short sentences as bulleted points on a PP slide.
   • AVOID use of effects that do not relate to the topic. INSTEAD: use visual and audio effects that support and relate to the topic.
   • AVOID use of design themes, where every slide looks exactly the same. INSTEAD: use creative backgrounds (format --background).
   • AVOID forcing a teacher to click multiple times on one slide just to animate graphics. INSTEAD: set animations to after previous or with previous to allow a teacher to click once or twice only to trigger special effects.

3. What would make a great project?

   We examined ways to use technology throughout this semester. In general, demonstrate that you have mastered the technologies you will use in the project. Make the project reflect a semester's worth of learning. Demonstrate that you invested effort into the project and took it seriously. Create a product that you would be proud to include in an electronic portfolio to show to potential employers. (Note: Use elements that are appropriate to your project. It might not be appropriate to use all of the following elements in any one PP presentation.)

   • Link to helpful Web sites (examples, background information, educational games or simulations, or additional reading) through action buttons in PowerPoint.
   • Use action buttons to link to appropriate places in the PP (e.g., to return to a topic to review it).
   • Link to or embed video clips from YouTube or TeacherTube.
   • Use graphics and animation in PowerPoint to demonstrate how something works.
   • Use background music to draw attention to the presentation.
   • Use custom animation with sound appropriately and effectively to teach a lesson and maintain learner attention.
   • Use triggered animation to provide feedback to learners or to allow learners to interact with the PP through a SmartBoard.
   • Download appropriate sounds and graphics from the Web to better teach the lesson.
   • Use action buttons to link to another program (e.g., Word or Excel).
   • Develop an Excel spreadsheet to allow students to experiment or gain practice in learning the concept.

Rubric for grading the project

Assistance from Dr. Steve

Go to home page.

E-mail Dr. Steve.