One of the most important things that I wanted to incorporate into the lesson is, better usage of the Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) to create end of the project assessments for the students. Again, many of the technologies we have available to use for the students is either underutilized or not understood how to use at all.
For the final assignment, I would like to create an assessment using Activotes, for fifth grade science that deals with Earth and Space. Within this particular topic there are four TEKS that accompany this topic, Formation of Fossil Fuels (5.7A), Changes to Land (5.7B), Alternative Energy (5.7C), and What Happened Before (5.7D). My first objective is to ensure that the students participated in the entire exercise by visiting and contributing feedback to the other groups on the blog. Second , by participating the students will have complied notes, and asked questions relevant to each topic (to include group presentations and pod casts). Lastly, I want to create a an assessment that covers the necessary vocabulary needed for each topic. If the students accomplished the above goals, then the Activote assessment will ensure that students have the knowledge to understand that particular TEK, and use content vocabulary during whole group discussions.
By using Activotes, students are able to take the assessment by using a hand held voting device, and not be subject to the regular pencil and paper exam. The Activote allows students to "vote" for their answers from their desks, and their answers get recorded electronically. Each student within the system is provided a number (which is their Activote number). When they vote, their answer gets recorded with by Activote number, and not name. The students are not able to see the names of the other students (or which Activote number they are). Not only does the Activote allow some "privacy" for the students, but it also provides me data by showing how many students missed a particular question, which aids me in reviewing certain concepts and vocabulary (in small groups) without going through whole group instruction of the entire topic.
There is a great website which provides a PDF that gives teachers simple instructions on how to set up the Activote flip chart. If interested please visit http://tinyurl.com/6qhacul.
The second tool that I need to incorporate is rubrics for the students. In the past the students were given instructions on what they needed to do for their projects, but not specifics on what I would be looking for as far as grading was concerned. Personally, when I gave the students projects, I wanted to just give them a shell to work with (the topic) and have them create their own projects as they saw fit. Now fully understanding how rubrics are used throughout schooling (even into college), the use of rubrics will assist the students in creating better focused, more detailed projects than before.
Again the topics would be the same as mentioned above, and the students will have five primary areas that need to be addressed in order to get full credit for the group projects.
1. Posting of reflections weekly on blogs
2. Posting of relevant research sites
3. Providing constructive criticism to other groups
4. Posting of podcast on blog (Final assignment)
5. Posting of PowerPoint presentation on blog (Final assignment)
Each one of the topics will have a rubric that outlines the requirements to receive maximum points in each area. Please visit http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=NewRubric to create rubrics for any assignment that you may assign in your classroom.
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