I have a group of six 5th grade Math Enrichment students that I meet with for fifteen minutes each morning. I haven't decided if I like these drive-by classes better than my once-a-week-for-half-an-hour Enrichment classes. I appreciate getting to check in with this group every day as they are my biggest group at my highest grade level, but too many times checking in is all we get accomplished. I decided to use this to my advantage. I wanted to get them on the computers researching ("surfing with a purpose") and also producing something with their time. That was my inspiration for their Dream Vacation project.
Expectations
Although I don't give grades to my Enrichment students, it is still important to inform them of the expectations I have for their projects. I came up with this rubric after discussing with the group what they wanted out of the brochures. We settled on something they could use to convince me to come along with them. You can download the rubric here. I created it using Rubistar.
How'd it go?
My first bump in the road was with technology. Not the technology itself, but the availability of it. I was planning on having Google Earth available for my students to use in their planning phase. We had decided that they should visit either five states or one other country and use at least one mode of transportation other than automobile. Google Earth is an amazing piece of software that would enable students to not just plan their routes and find attractions along the way, but to also experience technology in a meaningful, educational way. Unfortunately, our computers weren't able to accept cohabitation with Google Earth.
The second bump in the road was my students inability to navigate the Internet. It was surprising, but this was my first time working with K-5 students on the Internet. My expectations were off. Way off. After the first day (I'll generously call it a "preassessment"), I put together a walk-through of Expedia for them. Download it here. To make the walk-through, I took screenshots while I searched Expedia for my own Dream Vacation to London. I then used Apple's Preview application which is built into OS X to annotate it with arrows and circles. Unfortunately, the annotation tools are only available in the Leopard (10.5) version of OS X.
Next time?
I found the website MyBrochureMaker.com for the kids to use to create their brochures. Unfortunately, our computers couldn't handle the site so I had to improvise. I went to the art teacher and got some supplies so my students could make their brochures by hand. According to a student survey I read recently, flexibility is one of the top three characteristics gifted students look for in their teachers.
I also wish I could have used Google Earth with them. My wife and I used it to plan our honeymoon two years ago, and it has improved immensely since then. I feel for my students.
Ideas?
Anything hit you while you were reading this? Resources that would fit into this project?
Next time?
I found the website MyBrochureMaker.com for the kids to use to create their brochures. Unfortunately, our computers couldn't handle the site so I had to improvise. I went to the art teacher and got some supplies so my students could make their brochures by hand. According to a student survey I read recently, flexibility is one of the top three characteristics gifted students look for in their teachers.
I also wish I could have used Google Earth with them. My wife and I used it to plan our honeymoon two years ago, and it has improved immensely since then. I feel for my students.
Ideas?
Anything hit you while you were reading this? Resources that would fit into this project?
0 comments:
Post a Comment