Challenge #13 Global Project Design

For this challenge, I choose to think locally. I work in the Baldwin County School System. This school system is large in respect to number of students and schools but also in respect to geography. Baldwin County is also very diverse in terms of the ethnicity of it's students, geographic locations, and socioeconomic levels. I thought it would be interesting  for teachers and fourth grade students to get to know the other fourth grade classes within the Baldwin County School System.

The purpose of this project is for students to collaboratively create a presentation about their classroom that they will share via Skype with other fourth grade classrooms. While creating their classroom presentations they will be in communication with the other classrooms participating in the project. They will collaborate on ways to present their information and sources to use for gathering research.. This project also serves as a warm up project that helps students develop collaboration skills that can be used on other projects.

I would love to try this project if I get a full-time teaching position next year.

Project Name: My Fourth Grade Class in Baldwin County Alabama.

Website URL: This is only a proposed project. A Wiki page would be used to collect student artifacts.
Location: Baldwin County in the state of Alabama
Communication:
Asynchronous –The students and teachers would use a Wiki to post materials, pictures, and short videos about the project.
Synchronous- The students participating in this project would use Skype to present their complied information to the other participants in the project.
Generation: Fourth grade students in the Baldwin County, Alabama Public School System.
Information: Computer Connected to the Internet with access to Wikis, Skype, and email.
Teachers, peers, and other school professionals.
Time: This project is designed to run for five weeks.
One Month Before Project Start – Classrooms wanting to participate need to RSVP one month before project is scheduled to begin.
Two Weeks Before Project Start – Online teacher information meeting.
One Week Before Project Start – Classroom and student handshake.
Week One of Project – Students compile information about their fourth grade classroom. Students are also in contact with each other using the message board on the Wiki and email.
Week Two of Project – Students use Skype to communicate with each other what information they have collected. They will also discuss ways they can present their information.
Week Three of Project – Student use Skype, Wiki message boards, and email to monitor the progress they are making while creating their presentations.
Week Four of Project– Students use Skype to present to the other fourth grade classes what their classroom is like.
Week Five of Project – Celebration. All participants meet at a centralized location to celebrate completing this project.
Learning Legacy:  Classroom presentations are taped and added to the project Wiki. The presentations can also be shared with the rest the school, parents, and administrators.
Curriculum Integration and Alignment: This project uses skills learned in English language Arts but the subject matter of the project is rooted in social studies.
Guiding Questions:
What is your fourth grade classroom like?
What makes your classroom special?
Who is in your classroom?
What part of Baldwin County is your school located?
What is special about that area of Baldwin County?
Project Aims: There are two essential aims for this project. The first is for students to learn about the different schools, students, and areas in the Baldwin County School System. The second aim is to develop collaboration and technology skills in the students that can be used in future projects.
Focus Questions:
What makes our classroom special, unique, or different?
What makes the location of our school special, unique, or different?
What is the best way to gather information for our project?
What is the best way to share and communicate that information amongst ourselves and the other classes participating?
How does a good digital citizen behave?
Are we collaborating effectively?
Standards Alignment:
This project is aligned with the ISTE NETS Standards for teachers and students.
It also aligns with the fourth grade Alabama Couse of Study Standards listed below.
Social Studies Standard #16

Determine the impact of population growth on cities, major road systems, demographics, natural resources, and the natural environment of Alabama during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.

English Language Arts Standards

16. Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears. [RI.4.7]

18. Integrate information from two texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably. [RI.4.9]

23. Write informative or explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. [W.4.2]

a. Introduce a topic clearly and group related information in paragraphs and sections; include formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. [W.4.2a]

b. Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic. [W.4.2b]

c. Link ideas within categories of information using words and phrases (e.g., another, for example, also, because). [W.4.2c]

d. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. [W.4.2d]

e. Provide a concluding statement or section related to the information or explanation presented. [W.4.2e

25. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 22-24 above.) [W.4.4]

26. With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of the first three Language standards in Grades K-4.) [W.4.5]

27. With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of one page in a single sitting. [W.4.6]

Required Outcomes: Each classroom will produce a twenty minute presentation that explains why their school, classroom, and location in Baldwin County are special, unique, and different. The students can choose any format they want to present this information.

Team Structure: Each classroom is one whole team. The teacher and students in each classroom can decide to break themselves into teams to complete the tasks in this project.

Required Inputs: Students are required to participate in the beginning handshake and contribute two artifacts to the Wiki per week.  They are also required to participate in asynchronous and synchronous communications and to work collaboratively to create a group presentation.

Assessments: A rubric will be used to measure each classroom presentation and each student will be evaluated using a rubric that measures the individual learning goals of each student.

Evaluation: Post project teacher and student surveys.