MEMO
To: Principal
4th & 5th Grade School – New Jersey
From: Mrs. Susan Milovich, Teacher of the Handicapped/Technology Facilitator
Subject: Integrated Approach to insure that all Fourth and Fifth Graders meet the Technology Standards in the NJ CCS.
Date: April 2005
ASSESSMENT OF
CURRENT RESOURCES
Each classroom is equipped with at least two computers and all classes have access to the
wireless
labs for one 50-minute period each week.
The majority of the staff is comfortable with their own computers. They utilize them to send and receive
email, post assignments on Homework Hero, and to create documents for students
use. Several of the staff members
also submit their lesson plans on line.
Most of the computers are equipped with Internet access, have either
Clarisworks or Microsoft Windows for word processing, Inspiration software for
creating graphic outlines, and other organizers to assist with writing. Computers also have Microsoft PowerPoint
or equivalent software to create slide presentations and Microsoft Excel or
equivalent software for creating spreadsheets and graphs.
TECHNOLOGY
STANDARDS IN THE NJ CCCS
OUR GOAL AND HOW EACH CHILD CAN MASTER
THE STANDARDS
Our school-wide goal is full mastery of each technology standard. Each student will create a digital portfolio of his/her work as an authentic assessment to show that he/she has mastered the NJ CCCS. Technology assignments should augment the other disciplines. A list of sample projects that highlight each of the standards and strands is listed below. The Technology Facilitator will work with the classroom teachers to create exact criteria for projects at each grade level. The number of projects that should be completed at each grade level has not been determined and needs to be discussed with administration and staff for feasibility.
STANDARD 8.1 Students will use computer applications to gather and organize information and solve problems.
Basic Computer
Skills and Tools
Long Term Goals - Basic technology
vocabulary and features of an operating system
Input and access text and data, using appropriate keyboarding techniques or other input devices. Create and maintain files and folders, use a graphic organizer, and use basic computer icons.
Project: As the children work through all the projects below, they will master all of the above skills as they create their own digital portfolio.
Goal - Produce a simple finished document
using word processing software.
Project: Use the wireless lab during the scheduled time to type one of the students’ final copies of a writing assignment. For added punch, download a picture from google.com, (click on images), and insert it onto the final product. The children can also practice changing fonts to create the look they want.
Goal - Produce and interpret a simple
graph or chart by entering and editing data on a prepared spreadsheet
template.
Project: Use the collaborative math project by Linda Dyke at http://www.masters.ab.ca/bdyck/back/ that discusses the weight of backpacks and how they are hurting students backs all around the world to investigate percents, ratios, tables and graphing.
Goal - Create and present a multimedia
presentation using appropriate software.
Project: Create a PowerPoint presentation with four slides entitled “My Book About Me”. The first slide will contain a general biography of the student. Slides two and three will highlight special aspects of the student’s life, such as their interests, family, sports, etc. The final slide will touch on the things that the student cares about, such as the environment, friendships, etc. Digital photography, scanned drawings, clip art, or Internet images could be added to each page. The technology coordinator can supply a slide template or the teachers may design their own.
Application of
Productivity Tools
Social
Aspects
Goal - Discuss the common uses of
computer applications and identify their advantages and disadvantages. Recognize
and practice responsible social and ethical behaviors when using technology.
Understand the consequences of inappropriate use including: Internet access, copyrighted materials,
on-line library resources, personal security and safety issues, appropriate
Internet etiquette, and the ethical and legal implications of plagiarism of
copyrighted materials.
Project 1: Do the Internet scavenger hunt about
copyrighted materials at http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/hunt/hunt040.shtml.
Project 2: Use the Good Night Stories website at http://goodnightstories.com/stories.htm to create madlibs, finish previously written stories and publish your student’s stories on this Internet site. Discuss personal security and safety, the use of proper language and the ethical implication of creating one’s own work to publish. This is a very easy project.
Information Access
and Research
Goal - Recognize the need for accessing
and using information. Identify and use web browsers, search engines, and
directories to obtain information to solve real world problems. Recognize accuracy and/or bias of
information.
Project: Use http://www.ipl.org/youth/dewey/, the website of the Youth division of the Internet Library and a good web browser at http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/ to begin any research project. Choose one topic from Social Studies in each grade to write a report about.
Problem Solving and
Decision Making
Goal - Solve problems individually and/or
collaboratively using computer applications.
Project: Students will research flags
to decide what is a good or poor design for a flag at the North American
Vexillological Association website that can be accessed at http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/techlp/techlp026.shtml
and then work in pairs to create a school flag based on the information they
found out. Flags can be drawn in
Excel by following the directions at this site. A contest could be held to choose a
school flag out of all the designs.
STANDARD 8.2 Students will develop an understanding of the nature and impact of technology, engineering, technological design and the designed world as they relate to the individual, society and the environment. In Grade 4 & 5 this standard is based on the Science Standards 5.2 and 5.4 that state, students will: Develop and understanding of how people of various cultures have contributed to the advancement of science and technology and how discoveries have advanced the same. All students will understand the interrelationships between science and technology and develop a conceptual understanding of the nature and process of technology.
Cultural
Contributions and Historical Perspectives
Goal - Describe how people in different
cultures have made and continue to make contributions to science and
technology. Hear, read, write, and
talk about scientists and inventors in historical context.
Project: Use website http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/. In pairs, research two different
scientists from the 19th century that worked with plants, animals,
etc. Fill out research sheet about
scientist. Then have the children
use the interactive venn diagram organizer at http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/venn/index.html. to
compare and contrast the information they found about the two scientists. Scientists may be chosen by the teacher
ahead of time to augment particular units.
Science and
Technology
Goal - Distinguish between things that
occur in nature and those that have been designed to solve human problems.
Project: http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/technologyatwork1/
will link you to the Discovery School lesson plan website. In this lesson, students will work in
pairs to research technology on the Internet. They will create a timeline using
Inspiration or use one that is web interactive at http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/timeline/index.html to
determine when certain tools were designed to help humans solve problems.
Nature of
Technology
Goal - Demonstrate how measuring
instruments are used to gather information in order to design things that work
properly.
Project: Students find out which birds are present in our school environment through observation and Internet research at http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/content/animals/birds/. They will use characteristics and measurements of these birds to design and build birdhouses that can be used in the Green Team garden to attract birds. Measurements will be used to determine the size of the houses as well as in the process of building the birdhouses. For additional projects go to http://shopa.org/shopa_foundation/bpguide/.
Technological
Design
Goal - Describe a product or device in
terms of the problem it solves or the need it meets.
Choose materials most suitable based on their characteristics to make simple mechanical constructions. Use the design process to identify a problem, look for ideas, and develop and share solutions with others.
Project: Design and create weather-monitoring devices for your class weather station with help from http://www.wildwildweather.com/teachers.htm. Gather weather data in our area for a month with your instruments and analyze that information by creating Excel spreadsheets and graphs.