Tool #7 Digital Projects - Outside the Classroom

I have had experience with "asynchronous" learning -- without realizing what it was called -- while working on my Masters. During the school year, our classes were 50/50: 50% face-to-face and 50% online. I received my Masters from The University of Houston Clearlake without stepping foot into a classroom at the University. My summer classes were all taken on-line -- long distance learning. We used WebCT for discussions and assignments. Also, about 10 years ago, I participated in a technology training through Region IV and we used "Blackboard" in order to communicate and turn in assignments.

Many teachers on our campus use a version of this type of learning when they create a classroom blog and assign students projects to complete and then respond and write about it on the blog.

I learned about Skype a few years ago after my daughter left to college in Chicago. We downloaded it on our computer and we were able to "video chat" with her. I am happy to see that it has vigorously moved into the classroom.

Social Studies Project Using Tools

Local History : This site has a similar project to the one below....

Objective:

Students will become familiar with the states they need to learn by contacting a school in the state capitol via Skype.

Project:

Prior to contacting a school, students will research information on their city/area to share with a the corresponding school. The can design a questionnaire to help them keep track of information gathered.

The class will discuss what information is important for them to know regarding their state and the students can choose questions from the classroom bank or come up with pertinent questions they want to know.

The students will pair up and design a questionnaire that they will use to get information from students from their respective school.

After the information has been gathered, the students will create a VoiceThread and post it on the classroom Blog. The VoiceThread will include images, text, and narrations.

On a U.S. classroom map, the students will keep track of the states from which they have gathered information.

Assessment

Teacher will assess groups based on their questionnaire, their ability to converse and gather information from others, their blog post, and their reflection of learning upon completion of the project.

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Here are some Science Projects that seemed appropriate for our elementary kiddos:

Wonderful World of Weather (Real-Time Data Project)

Whichever Way the Wind Blows (Design a windsock)

The Three Little Pigs (Design an indestructible house for the third little pig)