Creating+Innovative+Uses+of+Technology+An+Individual+Project+Lesson+2

Creating Innovative Uses of Technology An Individual Project Project or Lesson Plan for Drivers Education By Gloria Cousins Rationale Lesson 2 1. Brief Description of # 2 Lesson Plan: Students are to look at different types of drugs and alcohol and research their effects on the different parts of the body ( both temporary and permanent effects ),specifically targeting the parts of the body that these substances abuse, and how driving is affected by their use. 2. Technology and Resources Involved: Facility: 9th-12th grade high school students Network: Windows Equipment: Computer ( either pc or mac ) w/Internet, photo, speakers, microphone Software: fotobabble, wiki Websites URL’s- @http://cousinsadapclass.wikispaces.com @http://www.fotobabble.com 3. Skills, Knowledge, and pedagogy required of teachers: Knowledge of district and county standards, familiarity with available technology (hardware and software) in the school which includes knowledge of websites that might be blocked to students. Also needed is the ability to connect standards to lesson plans using the available and appropriate technology to accomplish the goals. 4. Prior Skills and Knowledge required of students: Students should be familiar with basics of computer, know how to conduct research in the library and on the internet, ability to follow directions, speak, write, and read on a high school level. 5. What students are asked to do exactly ( Product or Process ): Students are asked to select a picture of alcohol or drug items from the instructor’s list, upload to their picture file, and research the item, its effects on the body, and the ability to control a vehicle while under its influence. Students will create a talking photo, and submit a research paper on the chosen item and submit both products on the class wiki. 6. Procedures of the Project ( Steps to teach the Technology Skills): a. Students are asked to select from the instructor’s list on the class wiki the name of the substance they will be researching. ( Coordinate with the instructor so that everyone won’t be working on the same item.) b. Write a 1-2 page paper that contains the following: 1. Contents of the substance that are harmful. 2. How the substance affects the body ( specifically what parts of the body ). 3. Tell whether the effects are temporary or long term. 4. How does the substance ( alcohol or drug ) affect the ability to drive? c. Find a photo of the item being researched either on the internet, magazine, newspaper, etc and scan or upload item into picture file on the computer. If difficulty in finding pictures, they can be obtained from the instructor. d. Go to fotobabble.com ( free service, setup an account, upload your picture from the file, State your name, and record a brief explanation-about 60 seconds-of what your item is briefly explaining the effects on the body, and the dangers of using it while driving. Click Save, obtain and copy the embed code before leaving the fotobabble website. e. Go to the class wiki and search for the item’s name on the left of the wiki. Click edit, insert widget (select other widget ). In the slot for embed code, right click to paste the code from fotobabble into this area.  f. Underneath widget ( your talking photo ) type your name, the date of your entry, and a brief explanation of the harmful effects on the body.  g. Click on New Page to copy and paste your research paper. The format is flexible, but it should be no more than 1-2 pages in length and written and saved in Word (.doc) You are to include at least 2 sources that document your research. 7. Advantages of the project: Students are able to sharpen their research skills while discovering how harmful drugs and alcohol are. The ones that have started to experiment with items on the instructor’s list will hopefully make different choices before getting behind the wheel, or as a passenger with someone else who is impaired of 1 or more of these substances. It also is an opportunity for the shy students to speak who would not normally volunteer to speak in class. It gives me an opportunity to assess their skills in research, ability to follow instructions, and the progress of their writing and speaking abilities. 8. Disadvantages of the Project: Students are limited in the size of the photo they can use, and the message that can be recorded. Students with lesser speaking and writing abilities might feel uncomfortable displaying their work in front of other class members. Some of the websites to be used for research are blocked in school, and most of the work has to be done at home. I might have to modify certain parts of the project by supplying pictures from my personal file for the students to upload to fotobabble. I have no special needs students or students with disabilities in my class, so that would not be an issue; however, I can see how it could be. 9. Types of effective Instructional Strategies Included: a. Students are given a grading Rubric at the beginning of the assignment. b. Project is designed to be worked on as a team or individually. Each student has to say a few words on the recorded message to receive credit. c. Project can be worked on at school or home. d. Parents will be allowed to assess the class wiki, and will view the talking photos and the writings of the students. 10. Possibilities that he innovation can be transferred to other teachers, subject content, and different school settings: Students can start as early as Middle School abusing drugs and alcohol, so this project can be duplicated on all levels. Since the main purposes are to improve research skills, as well as writing and speaking skills, this project can be applied to any K-12, and post secondary grades. The key to success is to find a subject that the students enjoy reading and talking about, hearing themselves on tape, and supporting their information with a well organized paper.