Participate Project

Project Overview: The purpose of this telecollaborative project is to use the Internet to find and share important & interesting information about what was happening in the world when you were born. The students will collect, record, organize, and share their data all over the world. The class together, would create their own 'history' book of what happened on their birthdays. This collaborative project was set up by Ms. Campanella, tech coordinator, for St. Philip Neri School in Louisiana.

Curriculum-Related Goals:

Technology areas: Using technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity. Using technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources. Using telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences. Evaluating appropriate websites and becoming more proficient in the use of technology.
Language Arts objectives: Reading and writing for information. Researching information using available resources (including electronic formats).Use writing processes and strategies appropriately and as needed to construct meaning and communicate effectively (in a variety of forms.
Social Studies/Math objectives: Students will learn how the value of money has changed over the years. Use math skills to calculate how many days old they currently are and how to find averages and differences. Learn about the history (impt. world events) during the years they were born. Employ chronology to understand change and/or continuity and cause and/or effect in history.

Technical Needs

Access to computers without too many filters and good Internet connections.
Networked system to allow students to save their research.
Web authoring capabilities.

Procedures:

Teacher officially registers with project originator. (I tried contacting this person, but have yet to receive a reply back yet). Sign up for computer labs and discuss project with both Technology teacher and Media Specialist.
Share with class purpose of assignment and show example of previous class' website projects.
Discuss the use of the computer in terms of it's educational purpose and ease/quickness of attaining information.
Review what strategies should be used when searching for information on the Internet (review keywords, sites to use, appropriateness of site, refer back to critical information literacy project about validity of websites, etc.)
Explain that is okay to get help from others while working on this project, especially family members.
Stress the importance of the students obtaining correct information as they will be sharing their results on the web.
Give students a pre-test to see what information they know about the year they were born. (see site for example). Pair up any students who share the same birthday if needed.
At some point during the time alloted for completing of their research, each student will have the opportunity to view previous students' birthday project reports (as provided by the teacher and original project website).
Allow ample time for students to conduct research and assist them when needed.
Stop after 2 days of working on project to check progress as a class and share helpful sites, important searching techniques, and discuss use of Internet. Track progress of students and allow for more work time.
Aid students in completing personalized web page that shares their information. Have Technology teacher help with creation of web pages. If web page construction is taking too long (or becomes too complicated) have students create a presentation using PowerPoint software instead.
Share out as a class--each student presents their report.
Pick few students who are willing to help teacher with creation of our class web page devoted to this project (possibly as part of a GT enrichment project). Create class page and upload each students project. Send out site to parents so they can view their students work and share with staff through online email.

Offline Activities:

Students will use the library to research specific information about the year they were born using encyclopedias and other non-electronic resources (with help from Media Specialist, as needed).
Students will ask family members (grandparents, parents) about what important historical events happened the year they were born.
As part of our school's Language Arts department, each grade creates and publishes some sort of class or individual book. I think this activity would lend itself great to creating a class book, where each student can publish a page about what they learned from the year they were born project.

Difficulties that may occur:

Availability of computer or mobile lab for extended use of time to complete project. Let Media Specialist and Technology teacher know about timeline used for this assignment (sign up first month of school for mobile lab way ahead of time before anyone else has it signed out).
Students not using their time effectively on computers: Tell them that will loose their privilege of searching on the Internet during school time and will have to work on it from home with parents permission.
Computer system breaks down in school. Back-up plan to stick to traditional resources for the day in hopes that it's back up next school day.

Backup Plans:

If computer lab access becomes a major issue, discuss with the Technology Teacher and/or Media Specialist to see if students can work on some of their 'research' during their related arts class times.
Maybe partner up students for those that have a harder time completing written work (ie, IEP students with GT students).
If unable to complete project online, use PowerPoint to have each student create their projects and share as a class slide show.

Closure of Project:

Have students re-take the pre-test about the year they were born and compare information they learned.
Once each student has prepared their report about their birthday, they will share with the class. If time permits, the class will create one website (probably in the form of a blog) to include the important information they learned while doing this project. Share student pages (or class if done) with school community on CLC (email conference) so other teachers can share this projects with other students in school.

Evaluation of Project:

Written up report about their birthday.
Shared report to peers in class
Check site often to see if viewed by others.
Discuss project as a class and determine it's pro/cons and decide if best done with use of computer or traditional methods.

Extension of Activity:

Students could research their classroom teacher's birthday as an extra credit project (or another teacher in the building).
Do the same project for the principal or assistant principal of the school and invite them to come to a class party to celebrate their birthdays.
Create a spreadsheet that lists all the important information gathered by the entire class for easy access to data.

Telecollaborative Project

The Day I Was Born, Online Project - Discovering YOUR Place in History

Have you ever wondered what happened on the day you were born? Read about this great telecollaborative online project that teaches researching skills, writing skills, social studies skills, and learn fun information about your birthday!

Curriculum-Related Goals:	Technology areas: Using technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity. Using technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources. Using telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences. Evaluating appropriate websites and becoming more proficient in the use of technology. Language Arts objectives: Reading and writing for information. Researching information using available resources (including electronic formats).Use writing processes and strategies appropriately and as needed to construct meaning and communicate effectively (in a variety of forms. Social Studies/Math objectives: Students will learn how the value of money has changed over the years. Use math skills to calculate how many days old they currently are and how to find averages and differences. Learn about the history (impt. world events) during the years they were born. Employ chronology to understand change and/or continuity and cause and/or effect in history.
Technical Needs	Access to computers without too many filters and good Internet connections. Networked system to allow students to save their research. Web authoring capabilities.
Procedures:	Teacher officially registers with project originator. (I tried contacting this person, but have yet to receive a reply back yet). Sign up for computer labs and discuss project with both Technology teacher and Media Specialist. Share with class purpose of assignment and show example of previous class' website projects. Discuss the use of the computer in terms of it's educational purpose and ease/quickness of attaining information. Review what strategies should be used when searching for information on the Internet (review keywords, sites to use, appropriateness of site, refer back to critical information literacy project about validity of websites, etc.) Explain that is okay to get help from others while working on this project, especially family members. Stress the importance of the students obtaining correct information as they will be sharing their results on the web. Give students a pre-test to see what information they know about the year they were born. (see site for example). Pair up any students who share the same birthday if needed. At some point during the time alloted for completing of their research, each student will have the opportunity to view previous students' birthday project reports (as provided by the teacher and original project website). Allow ample time for students to conduct research and assist them when needed. Stop after 2 days of working on project to check progress as a class and share helpful sites, important searching techniques, and discuss use of Internet. Track progress of students and allow for more work time. Aid students in completing personalized web page that shares their information. Have Technology teacher help with creation of web pages. If web page construction is taking too long (or becomes too complicated) have students create a presentation using PowerPoint software instead. Share out as a class--each student presents their report. Pick few students who are willing to help teacher with creation of our class web page devoted to this project (possibly as part of a GT enrichment project). Create class page and upload each students project. Send out site to parents so they can view their students work and share with staff through online email.
Offline Activities:	Students will use the library to research specific information about the year they were born using encyclopedias and other non-electronic resources (with help from Media Specialist, as needed). Students will ask family members (grandparents, parents) about what important historical events happened the year they were born. As part of our school's Language Arts department, each grade creates and publishes some sort of class or individual book. I think this activity would lend itself great to creating a class book, where each student can publish a page about what they learned from the year they were born project.
Difficulties that may occur:	Availability of computer or mobile lab for extended use of time to complete project. Let Media Specialist and Technology teacher know about timeline used for this assignment (sign up first month of school for mobile lab way ahead of time before anyone else has it signed out). Students not using their time effectively on computers: Tell them that will loose their privilege of searching on the Internet during school time and will have to work on it from home with parents permission. Computer system breaks down in school. Back-up plan to stick to traditional resources for the day in hopes that it's back up next school day.
Backup Plans:	If computer lab access becomes a major issue, discuss with the Technology Teacher and/or Media Specialist to see if students can work on some of their 'research' during their related arts class times. Maybe partner up students for those that have a harder time completing written work (ie, IEP students with GT students). If unable to complete project online, use PowerPoint to have each student create their projects and share as a class slide show.
Closure of Project:	Have students re-take the pre-test about the year they were born and compare information they learned. Once each student has prepared their report about their birthday, they will share with the class. If time permits, the class will create one website (probably in the form of a blog) to include the important information they learned while doing this project. Share student pages (or class if done) with school community on CLC (email conference) so other teachers can share this projects with other students in school.
Evaluation of Project:	Written up report about their birthday. Shared report to peers in class Check site often to see if viewed by others. Discuss project as a class and determine it's pro/cons and decide if best done with use of computer or traditional methods.
Extension of Activity:	Students could research their classroom teacher's birthday as an extra credit project (or another teacher in the building). Do the same project for the principal or assistant principal of the school and invite them to come to a class party to celebrate their birthdays. Create a spreadsheet that lists all the important information gathered by the entire class for easy access to data.