Sunday, April 29, 2012

Final Project



This lesson was adapted from both my cooperating teacher and some of the research I have done throughout this semester with educational technology.  The ideal classroom would be an English class with accessibility to computers with students who are not very familiar with the process of researching.  Please keep in mind that this is a classroom that has instilled blogging as a regular activity that the students are to complete every week.
The first stage of this lesson plan, access and analyze, is primarily the introductory stage of a research project.   The teacher will use direct instruction methodology in order to teach the students how to evaluate sources for credibility.  Using a computer, LCD projector, Prezi and guided questioning, the teacher will present the stages of evaluation and encourage students to engage with the process by asking questions to clarify.  The teacher will teach the CRAPP method and the associated YouTube video to illustrate the method students should use to decide whether sources should be used in their research project.  The students will be able to look at Internet sites and be able to decipher what is valid and reliable.  The hope is that students will contribute to the discussion by bringing in prior experience with research and credible sites.
            The students will then enter the Evaluation stage by working on computers to practice these skills on their own research.  The students will use Google to truly practice their skills of examining claims from sources and deciding if they are valuable enough to classify as research. The students are required to meet with groups to discuss and decide on the validity of websites in question.  The students will help each other examine informational text to decipher information and claims.  They will also discuss in groups how they can begin to implement the CRAPP method in other classes for research.  The students will use the conversations in their groups, their own experience using the method, and prior research experience to write a required blog on Blogger. The students will also be required to comment on each other’s blog to illustrate class participation.   
            In the communication stage, the students will begin to decide on their research topics.  During these two class periods, the students will begin their research project to collect any related sources they will use in their project.  The students will use research tools like JSTOR or Google Books to find credible sources.   During their research, they should be using their blogs to record important quotes or excerpts they would like to include in their project. In addition to researching for textual support, the students will continue their individual work to create pinboards on Pinterest that will collect illustrations for their research project. During this time, the teacher will meet with each student to conference about their topic, use of time, and implementing the CRAPP method.  The students will use this time to voice any concerns or questions they have. The teacher will insure that each student is on the right path for the project.   After this one on one discussion, the students will break up into small group dedicated to helping each other in the process of research.  Here they will talk about any issues, question about credibility, and the technology usage so far.  Again, the student will be required to journal about their experiences, topics, and interests so far in their Blogger account.   
In the production phase, the students will begin to gather their research and ideas and organize them into the framework for the paper.  The students will create an outline for their research project to present the evidence they will use in their paper.  The will be instructed to create a clear and cohesive outline with coordinating quotes on MindNode.  This online tool will help students visualize the progression of their paper.  When they have completed the outline, it is to be embedded on their blogs.  The outline will help students organize their project clearly to ensure they stay on topic.  After the students have all creating their outlines, the students will then use their peer editing skills to critique each other’s outlines.  The students will use peer editing to help each other be as specific as possible.  They should point out anything that is confusing or that seems out of order.  At this point, the teacher will also assess the students’ progress through examining their Blogger accounts, MindNode outline, and Pinterest boards and record their grades in the Genesis grading system where both the students and parents are able to see grade postings.  

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