Skills will be demonstrated through the use of a common subject matter theme carried across all projects, with the possible exception of the software evaluation task.
Samples of past student work are available on the course server as a GENERAL guide to acceptable assignments. These projects should NOT be considered without errors, but they DO represent good quality work. They may vary from the specifics of YOUR course assignment, and should be used as a GENERAL GUIDELINE--NOT taken as "GOSPEL"!
Project evaluation critic sheets/rubrics are available on the course server. Please print them out and use them as a checklist for what is required for each assignment.
Project 1: Website (Web Search Techniques/Software Critique)
Project 1 will be a website you create using either a web editor of your choice such as Composer, or an application which automatically generates a site such as Word or Powerpoint. The content will be a "Teacher's Resource" type of idea--you will provide a listing of websites which you plan to help you to put together your Powerpoint Presentation and Newsletter, as well as some other useful teacher resources--such as additional links on the National Park of your choice, puzzle/games/quiz sites, fun activities, etc. Also, the site should be considered a "monthly" edition of the teacher resource--and will feature a
The objectives for the software evaluation portion of this task:
- To explore a software package that would be of use in either a K-6 or 7-12 grade level;
- To CRITICALLY analyze the software for its educational soundness--how well does it accomplish educational teaching objectives? Should your school purchase it?
- To recognize user factors in educational software--ease of use, visual screen design, motivational factors, instructional support materials, quality of directions, adaptability of challenge levels, etc.;
- To learn how to install software;
- To become aware of the variety of educational software packages available and how to incorporate them into your future classroom.
The grading criteria for the software evaluation portion of the task is as follows:
- (5 pts) Description of the software's use and instructional objectives
- (5 pts) Ease of use--quality of directions, ability to easily quit/get to directions, able to get to desired type of activity, how well program works technically (does it get hung up?)
- (5 pts) Visual/Auditory quality of program,
- (5 pts) Description of motivational efforts, presence/absence of supplemental instructional materials
- (5 pts) Rationale for decision to support or not support its purchase (I don't care which you decide on--but you should have COMPELLING REASONS for this decision.)
The web search part of this task has the following objectives:
- To explore the results of using a variety of different search engines
- To explore the differences in results of using different but synonymous search terms
- To be able to explain exactly how a particular link was found using search strategies of each engine-to focus searches by stipulating conditions to be met through the use of Boolean operators and other conditions such as limiting by date, language, type of information (news article, images, web pages, etc.) sought (Could you get this link again using the parameters indicated???)
- To find sites that are potentially useful for a future lesson you may teach
The grading criteria for the web search portion of the task is as follows:
- (5 pts) At least 5 sites were used
- (5 pts) At least 4 search engines, directories, databases, and different search terms were used
- (5 pts) An adequate description of search terms was provided
- (5 pts) Provided adequate description of information in the site (4-6 descriptive sentences.)
- (5 pts) Describe WHY this is a good site to use and EXACTLY, specifically how you'd use it in your project or classroom
Project 2: Educational Slide Show (Powerpoint)
Project 2 will be learning to create a Powerpoint presentation. It will demonstrate your ability to:
- Produce a branching presentation
- Print the presentation in outline and handout format
- Apply transitions to slides
- Progressively reveal information on slides
- Apply custom animation to information & graphics
- Apply sound and movies into a presentation
- Sequence slides in the desired order
- Apply the elements and principles of design to a visual presentation
- Create an educational application of some type for use in a future lesson
- Insert original graphics captured via scanner and/or digital camera into a presentation
Grading criteria:
- (5) Jump buttons or other branching text/graphics
- (2) were present
- (1) had a link applied
- (2) link works in a 2-way direction
- (2) Customized background appropriate to content on at least 1 slide
- (2) Provide name, course # & title, day/time of section on title page, along with a presentation title
- (2) minimum 10-12 slides or more as needed (approx.)
- (2) bulleted text with at least 2 levels of indent (this means 2 levels inward from the main, default setting)
- (1) scanned image (for custom background on a slide)
- (1) clipart image
- (1) text with a color change to provide emphasis of certain words (not automatically changed by the PP template)
- (2) animated text
- (2) animated graphic
- (2) transitions on all slides (use no more than 2 different ones-usually the same one throughout a show this short)
- (1) a sound effect
- (2) printed out as both a handout and as an outline
- (5) general design/layout avoids a cluttered look
- (3) instructional objectives
- (2) description of audience
Project 3: Sales Brochure/Newsletter (Desktop publishing skills)
Project 3 will be a newsletter/brochure to provide interesting facts and information on a national park you would like to teach students about. It will combine using search techniques to narrow down information with visual design/desktop publishing techniques to create an attractive, informative product.
The desktop publishing part of this task has the following objectives:
- To explore the use of clip art and scanned images
- To learn to use borders, shading, font faces, drop caps, watermarks and other strategies to create visual interest
- To learn the use of columns and section breaks for visually formatting a file
- To learn how to wrap text around images
- To apply the elements and principles of good visual design to a classroom project
Timeframe/Due Dates
Since all projects tie together, they should be thought about as comprising a single unit. However, since it is necessary to do web research in project 1 to develop projects 2 & 3, Project 1 (web site and software critique) will be due the 3rd class session. Projects 2 & 3 will be developed simultaneously, although project 2 (powerpoint show) will be due the 6th class session while project 3 (newsletter/brochure), will be turned in at the end of the last class session. Students will always provide appropriate hard copy (print outs) of each project as well as having an electronic copy available on the class server. Students will be saving draft versions each class period on the course server to act as a BACKUP copy of work in progress. The latest version of each project should be saved to the server EACH WEEK.