Phase I: Designing Instruction

This lesson is logically organized because it goes through the entire unit and lets students put together what they are learning in a google document. It starts with the basic prior knowledge students have and lets them gather the information as they learn it. Students receive a worksheet to help keep track of their research. This project also allows a variety methods to collect research: the can hear it in class (audio), find/read it online or in a book (visual/reading), or learn it kinesthetically during lessons in class. This variety of ways to gather information will help students learn not only research but observation. This also engages higher level thinking as they synthesize the knowledge they gain through this page.

For this micro-lesson, I shortened the lesson since I wanted the lesson to be part of a larger unit. I did not include the citations since they only have time to look at one or two sources. I will have them present as their assessment instead of the rubric.

This aligns with technology by having students use the internet as part of their research. I think it very successfully integrates technology in a way that supports learning and keeps students engaged. However, I will have to help students, when explaining their research, understand what information they can and cannot use. For instance, they do not have to worry about copying in regards to taking down simple facts like the year they were born, but they cannot copy sentences from websites word for word. In theory, they should not be on any sort of chat, so I don't have to worry about digital etiquette, but I need to be sure the students understand what a reliable source is and isn't. I also have to be aware that searches may show them inappropriate things, despite internet censors at the schools, and be prepared to deal with those as they happen and warn students that it can happen. These are all things I'll have to be conscious of when introducing them to research through the internet.

 This is all based on the google docs template created by Derrick Waddell. He created this video to help supplement the template and I will show it to students to help scaffold the project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=20NQ6vMKVXU