For my technology project, I chose to create this website. The internet can be a vast space full of misleading sites. I feel creating a centralized website for different units will help students stay on track with lessons, assignments, and can help to prepare for exams. A unit regarding poetry can go in many different directions; thus, I began the students unit by distinguishing a few figurative techniques: Hyperbole, Idiom, Metaphor and Simile, Personification. The way in which I structured this unit plan was to give the students guidance towards discovery. As the facilitator, I will provide the students with a figurative language technique and have them explore the technique on their own through questions and examples. Once the students have mastered their technique, as a group they will create a poem (containing their technique) as well as a picture that will visually explain their figurative language technique. Each group will be reading and determining which picture matches the different poems; thus, the students will be teaching each other. This website will contain their creations to use henceforth.
Creating a website for a class unit is an excellent way to bridge a technology gap between the teacher and students. Often times students are leaps and bounds more technology savvy than their teachers. Over the last ten plus years, technology has taken off from the internet to smart phones. With the teacher creating a website, it allows he or she to step into possible new explorations that their students have already mastered. I researched free websites in Safari that would allow me to manipulate my own content, as well as, keep a safe environment. Once I found a provider, Weebly, I researched each figurative language technique to see what the students would find when doing a quick 'google'. I found creditable sources and linked each technique to appropriate sites to help give guidance. Aside from what is not on this website, I would give the students access to the website with usernames and passwords (changing them frequently). To protect any inappropriate altering outside of the classroom, I would set aside some computer lab time to upload the students creations onto the website. As a result, the teacher and students will be creating a credible and useful website together.
I would begin the unit project in the classroom and would pull up the website I have created and project this image on a screen for the entire class to see. I would explain the benefits of creating units, via websites, which will contain all the information for the students to be successful come assessment time. As a class we will begin on the home page and work through the "Poetry Project" module. We will review the criteria on the 'credible sources' poster hanging in the room for adequate research. From there I will allow the students to group themselves in members of three to four per group. Once each group has been determined, I will decide which groups will have each technique. I will provide each group with a replica handout of what is in each module. I will walk around the room as students read, discuss, and deliberate. On a 90 minute block schedule, I will allot two forty-five minute computer days for the students to work as a group on their poem and picture. I will allow one week in-between the in-class group days and the due date. On the due date, as a class we will upload the poems and pictures onto the website. During that week, students are expected to use out of class time to complete their independent papers covering their technique.
Through this project, students will be collaboratively working to create an excellent source. The students will be expected to use technology two different ways. First, they will be using the internet to research their figurative language technique to complete the individual paper. Although they will not be uploading their papers onto the website, they will be joining forces to create poetry that will be uploaded and shared with everyone. Secondly, during the allotted computer lab days, students will also be using technology to design a picture that in detail depicts their figurative language technique. We will be using Microsoft Word and adobe photoshop to create pictures to enhance the students knowledge of technology as well as their figurative language technique.
I believe that creating a website is a great way to get a whole class involved in technology. As the teacher, one will be creating the skeleton for a website that the students will complete. The teacher would also be demonstrating their use and knowledge of technology by exploring the credible websites with the class. The students will spend in and out of class times to complete a project to in-turn teach their fellow classmates. The teacher becomes a student in the classroom during this project. The teacher facilitates the framework while the students expel their knowledge to teach others.
Kathryn Schlernitzauer
Creating a website for a class unit is an excellent way to bridge a technology gap between the teacher and students. Often times students are leaps and bounds more technology savvy than their teachers. Over the last ten plus years, technology has taken off from the internet to smart phones. With the teacher creating a website, it allows he or she to step into possible new explorations that their students have already mastered. I researched free websites in Safari that would allow me to manipulate my own content, as well as, keep a safe environment. Once I found a provider, Weebly, I researched each figurative language technique to see what the students would find when doing a quick 'google'. I found creditable sources and linked each technique to appropriate sites to help give guidance. Aside from what is not on this website, I would give the students access to the website with usernames and passwords (changing them frequently). To protect any inappropriate altering outside of the classroom, I would set aside some computer lab time to upload the students creations onto the website. As a result, the teacher and students will be creating a credible and useful website together.
I would begin the unit project in the classroom and would pull up the website I have created and project this image on a screen for the entire class to see. I would explain the benefits of creating units, via websites, which will contain all the information for the students to be successful come assessment time. As a class we will begin on the home page and work through the "Poetry Project" module. We will review the criteria on the 'credible sources' poster hanging in the room for adequate research. From there I will allow the students to group themselves in members of three to four per group. Once each group has been determined, I will decide which groups will have each technique. I will provide each group with a replica handout of what is in each module. I will walk around the room as students read, discuss, and deliberate. On a 90 minute block schedule, I will allot two forty-five minute computer days for the students to work as a group on their poem and picture. I will allow one week in-between the in-class group days and the due date. On the due date, as a class we will upload the poems and pictures onto the website. During that week, students are expected to use out of class time to complete their independent papers covering their technique.
Through this project, students will be collaboratively working to create an excellent source. The students will be expected to use technology two different ways. First, they will be using the internet to research their figurative language technique to complete the individual paper. Although they will not be uploading their papers onto the website, they will be joining forces to create poetry that will be uploaded and shared with everyone. Secondly, during the allotted computer lab days, students will also be using technology to design a picture that in detail depicts their figurative language technique. We will be using Microsoft Word and adobe photoshop to create pictures to enhance the students knowledge of technology as well as their figurative language technique.
I believe that creating a website is a great way to get a whole class involved in technology. As the teacher, one will be creating the skeleton for a website that the students will complete. The teacher would also be demonstrating their use and knowledge of technology by exploring the credible websites with the class. The students will spend in and out of class times to complete a project to in-turn teach their fellow classmates. The teacher becomes a student in the classroom during this project. The teacher facilitates the framework while the students expel their knowledge to teach others.
Kathryn Schlernitzauer