LESSON IDEA: WEBSITE-CREATION TOOLS

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Name: Lauren Sack
Directions: Using the template below, describe how students could use a blog, wiki, or other website-
creation tool to learn required learning standards in your content area: For an A grade provide an idea that
reaches a Level of Technology Implementation of 4 or above. Remember higher levels (4-6) require that
students assume adult/professional roles; engage in higher-order thinking; and use technology
create/publish original content for their classmates and/or others beyond their school/classroom. The
learning activities and products should be engaging and meaningful to the students and to others who will
view/use/benefit from students work. Review your handouts on Engaged Learning, Authenticity, and LoTi.
Grade Level: 1
st
Grade
Content Area: Social Studies
Technology Used (check all that apply): X Blog Wiki Other Website Creation Tool (list):
Content Area/Grade/Standards/Topics Addressed: First Grade Social Studeis.

SS1G3 The student will locate major topographical features of the earths surface.
a. Locate all of the continents: North America, South America, Africa, Europe,
Asia, Antarctica, and Australia.
b. Locate the major oceans: Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian.


Brief Description of Learning Experience: What learning standards will be addressed? What will
students and teachers do? What products will students create? How will the project be introduced? How
long will it take to complete? What audience will use/care about the product(s) students are creating? How
broad is this audience?

SS1G3 The student will locate major topographical features of the earths surface.
a. Locate all of the continents: North America, South America, Africa, Europe,
Asia, Antarctica, and Australia.
b. Locate the major oceans: Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian.

The students had a fun time creating their own maps of the world and labeling each ocean and continent,
and then comparing them to a real world map. On this blog, I sent a link of a blank world map for the
students to color and fill out at home with their parents. I asked them to fill in as much as possible showing
their parents what they already know. I then asked students to comment with anything new they learned
about the locations of the continents and oceans and I also asked the parents to comment with how well
their child did. I had great participation from both students and parents on this activity. I received a lot of
great feedback in the comments. This project should take about 30minutes to an hour to complete,
depending on students prior knowledge.


Blooms Level of Critical Thinking Required (check all that apply):
See http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Bloom%27s_Taxonomy
X Remembering X Understanding X Applying Analyzing Evaluating X Creating
Student Engagement: Which indicators of Engaged Learning area strong and why? (See Engaged
Learning and Authenticity handouts distributed earlier this semester.)



LESSON IDEA: WEBSITE-CREATION TOOLS
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Level of Technology Implementation (LoTi): What LoTi would this lesson be and Why?(See Engaged
Learning handout distributed earlier this semester.)

Level 4b Integration: Routine
At a Level 4b (Integration: Routine) students are fully engaged in exploring real-world issues and solving
authentic problems using the available digital and/or environmental resources. The teacher is within
his/her comfort level with promoting an inquiry-based model of teaching that involves students applying
their learning to the real world (e.g., Webbs Levels extended strategic thinking). Emphasis is placed on
learner-centered strategies and the constructivist, problem-based models of teaching that promote personal
goal setting and self-monitoring, student action, and issues resolution.

Students use of digital and/or environmental resources is inherent and motivated by the drive to answer
student- generated questions that dictate the content, process, and products embedded in the learning
experience.


Importance of technology: Why is using a website-creation tool critical to the project? Could the project
be completed without this technology? What would be lost without using it? What other types of
technology, if any, are going to be used in the learning experience?

This activity could be used without technology. I could have the students do activities in class and I could
send home worksheets daily for the students to work on at home with their parents. I like using technology
with this activity because I feel like the students are more willing to do that activitys, and because it is
more hands on, they are likely to learn more from it. It makes it a fun and interactive game/activity to work
on at home with their friends and family. I would possibly post a link to a flip chart for the students to
interact with and to play some games and watch some videos to help them learn about the different oceans
and continents.
Inspiration (optional): If you used existing example as a model for your project (whether in part or
whole), include the URL(s) so we can visit. Explain what concepts you borrowed from others.

Internet Safety and Student Privacy: Briefly discuss some possible issues surrounding Internet safety and
student privacy that could arise while implementing this learning experience and explain how you would
(1) minimize risks to students/yourself; (2) alleviate any fears by parents/administrators, and (3) follow
common Internet Safety/Acceptable Use Policies.

Some issues that could arise during this project and using my blog would be outsides being able to access
my blog, what school we are from, and locating students/teacher/parents names. To protect my
students/parents and to keep this from happening, I will have my blog private to where you have to have a
log in or a specific website URL to access my blog. I will also not post the name of the school or what city
we are in anywhere on my blog and I will not use any of my students names. The students and parents that
are accessing my blog will know all of that information so there is no need for me to post that kind of
information on my blog. If there comes a time that I want to post a students works or use a students name,
I will make sure the parents have filled out the Internet Safety/Acceptable Use Policies paperwork and that
they understand all the laws. I will also make sure my blog is not public, and that you have to have certain
information to access it.
Describe your personal learning goal for this activity. What are you trying that you have not tried
before? What do you hope to learn from this activity? How do you hope it will help students learn?
LESSON IDEA: WEBSITE-CREATION TOOLS
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Other comments about your proposed activity: