1. Why did you choose this lesson? Brief summary or original lesson plan design/goals of lesson.
The original purpose of this lesson was to have students determine what artifacts are primary sources through the family artifacts mentioned in the lesson plan.
2. Define new lesson plan design/goals of lesson
The new design of this lesson plan allows students create their own virtual museum using technology that they are familiar with and that can be repeatedly viewed and referenced.
The objectives for the lesson are:
· To build understanding by finding, identifying, and using primary sources/documents to retell [S3] .
· To begin to recognize the different elements that contribute to a person’s culture
· To begin to reflect on how the early 20th Century immigrations affected the American culture then and how it affects the American people today.
· To build an understanding of the process historians use to report history accurately
· Learn from, with, and about their peers
· Work with family members to find their own primary sources or documents from past family members who immigrated to United States or New England.
3. Which tool or tools did you choose to incorporate into this lesson to potentially improve it?
We incorporated a wiki space for our classroom's Virtual Museum. Our museum utilizes embedded YouTube videos, hyperlinks, and photopeach slide shows. Our students also used ellisisland.org/search/pastsearch and tenement.org to introduce primary sources.
4. Why did you choose this tool(s)?
The virtual museum on the wiki space was used to protect the primary sources of the students and to create a running record that can be built upon by future classes. Students can use the website as an extending reference for future assignments or to show family and friends. Most importantly, this museum is a lasting product that can be used as teaching model and resource for future classes.
5. What standards were you using to guide your decision on this? NETS?
The standards used were: NCSS-I-C explain and give examples of how language, literature, the arts, architecture, other artifacts, traditions, beliefs, values, and behaviors contribute to the development and transmission of culture; NETS1.d Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments; RIPTS5.1 Design lessons that extend beyond factual recall and challenge students to develop higher level cognitive skills. Teachers understand that factual recall, while important, is the most basic level of learning. Teachers design learning opportunities tat require the application of knowledge and thinking skills to a variety of problems so that students know how to put their knowledge to use
6. Do you feel this will improve your teaching? If so, why?
Technology will improve our teaching because it will be a digital archive record of past student work thus allowing us to better assess our students understanding of their culture and the use of primary sources. This will also allow us to foster a strong, interactive community of teachers, students, and parents.
7. Do you feel this will help improve student learning? If so, how and why?
The added technology incoproated into this lesson plan follows principles of best practice, thus helping to improve student learning. The creation of our museum allows the students to experience an authentic learning experience as a historian. The students connect to project and interact with it in a current format using tools that they are familiar with. This lesson also asks students to work collaboratively, a skill required to build appropriate social skills that will be carried into adulthood.
Lesson Plan Project Questions
1. Why did you choose this lesson? Brief summary or original lesson plan design/goals of lesson.
The original purpose of this lesson was to have students determine what artifacts are primary sources through the family artifacts mentioned in the lesson plan.
2. Define new lesson plan design/goals of lesson
The new design of this lesson plan allows students create their own virtual museum using technology that they are familiar with and that can be repeatedly viewed and referenced.
The objectives for the lesson are:
· To build understanding by finding, identifying, and using primary sources/documents to retell [S3] .
· To begin to recognize the different elements that contribute to a person’s culture
· To begin to reflect on how the early 20th Century immigrations affected the American culture then and how it affects the American people today.
· To build an understanding of the process historians use to report history accurately
· Learn from, with, and about their peers
· Work with family members to find their own primary sources or documents from past family members who immigrated to United States or New England.
3. Which tool or tools did you choose to incorporate into this lesson to potentially improve it?
We incorporated a wiki space for our classroom's Virtual Museum. Our museum utilizes embedded YouTube videos, hyperlinks, and photopeach slide shows. Our students also used ellisisland.org/search/pastsearch and tenement.org to introduce primary sources.
4. Why did you choose this tool(s)?
The virtual museum on the wiki space was used to protect the primary sources of the students and to create a running record that can be built upon by future classes. Students can use the website as an extending reference for future assignments or to show family and friends. Most importantly, this museum is a lasting product that can be used as teaching model and resource for future classes.
5. What standards were you using to guide your decision on this? NETS?
The standards used were: NCSS-I-C explain and give examples of how language, literature, the arts, architecture, other artifacts, traditions, beliefs, values, and behaviors contribute to the development and transmission of culture; NETS1.d Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments; RIPTS 5.1 Design lessons that extend beyond factual recall and challenge students to develop higher level cognitive skills. Teachers understand that factual recall, while important, is the most basic level of learning. Teachers design learning opportunities tat require the application of knowledge and thinking skills to a variety of problems so that students know how to put their knowledge to use
6. Do you feel this will improve your teaching? If so, why?
Technology will improve our teaching because it will be a digital archive record of past student work thus allowing us to better assess our students understanding of their culture and the use of primary sources. This will also allow us to foster a strong, interactive community of teachers, students, and parents.
7. Do you feel this will help improve student learning? If so, how and why?
The added technology incoproated into this lesson plan follows principles of best practice, thus helping to improve student learning. The creation of our museum allows the students to experience an authentic learning experience as a historian. The students connect to project and interact with it in a current format using tools that they are familiar with. This lesson also asks students to work collaboratively, a skill required to build appropriate social skills that will be carried into adulthood.