WEBSITE

AND CLASSROOM BLOG CREATION TOOLS

Name: Mattie Heath

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: 2nd grade
Content Area: Science
Technology Used (check all that apply):
Blog Wiki Other Website Creation Tool (list):
S2E1. Students will understand that stars have
Content Area/Grade/Standards/Topics Addressed: Science/
different sizes, brightness, and patterns. a. Describe the physical attributes of starssize, brightness, and
patterns. /

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? (Overview should be a minimum of 2 paragraphs).

Standard S2E1 is addressed in this lesson to allow students to examine the patterns of stars including their
physical attribute such as size and brightness. Throughout the school year, the teacher will use an online
classroom blog to post important information students may need. This includes any out of class/at home
assignments. The teacher will have a designated area/page of the blog for assignments that are required for
the class. The teacher will post instructions for an out of class or at home assignments. With the help from a
parent or guardian, students will be asked to find their favorite picture of a constellation and post it to the
classroom blog on its appropriate place and page. After the student post the picture online, they will talk
about why they chose the picture, and will give a brief summary about the constellation they chose.

The teacher will implement the pictures of constellations at the beginning of class to engage students in the
lesson for the day. This activity will open opportunity for student collaboration, and allows them to produce
a deeper leveled understanding of their learning. This assignment should take students approximately
fifteen to twenty minutes, with no more than a five-minute summary to the class about their constellation.
The audience of the assignment will be the students as a study tool for the standard. The audience can also
be directed towards the parents so that they are informed about what their child is learning throughout the
year.

Blooms Level of Critical Thinking Required (check all that apply):

See http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Bloom%27s_Taxonomy
Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating Creating

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 WEBSITE AND CLASSROOM BLOG CREATION TOOLS
Student Engagement/Level of Technology Implementation (LoTi): What LoTi would this lesson be and
Why? This lesson would be considered a LoTi level 4 lesson because students have the freedom to pick
which constellation of stars they like the best. Students are also required to have an explanation on why
they chose their constellations, which requires them to think deeply about the lessons topics. Student
participation is vital to students engaging and understanding the contact. The blog creates an interactive
way of learning so that participation is easy, yet manageable.

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?

The blog is vital to students completing the assignment because students would not have a secure place to
share their constellations. Students would lose the ability to go back and look at other students work to
compare and contrast the stars their classmates found. Parents would also lose the ability to see what is
going on currently in the class. Other technology tools in class used in this lesson are an interactive white
board. The teacher will pull the blog up through the board to be projected for the entire class.
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.

Students and teachers need to be cautious when getting online at any time. There is always a risk of
jeopardizing student safety when posts are made. To ensure that the information posted is confidential, the
blog will be password protected provided by the teacher of the class. The password will only be shared
with the guardians of the students to ensure that they are the only ones who can see their childs posts.
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?

I have never had or used a classroom blog before. Therefore, by using one I would be making my
classroom a more interactive experience. Students will learn to how to collaborate safely online to take
control of their learning. I hope that my students are able to understand how to use the learning techniques
taught by the blog so that they can implement it successfully into their studying routines. The goal of the
blog is to maximize student learning and I think using a classroom blog would be one small step to creating
a positive learning environment.
Other comments about your proposed activity: