Group+2+Design+Blueprint

__**Design Blueprint**__ (Side Note: a lesson plan similar to this has been used in the past simply with students writing journal entries on paper. ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍Blogging seems to be a great way to enhance this into a collaborative assignment ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍in which students are viewing and discussing each others work. ‍‍‍‍‍‍As we have discussed over the course of this class, this idea will help increase the accountability and effort of student work. ‍‍‍‍‍‍They will also enjoy working with computers and creating blogs, looking to comment on others, and looking to see who commented on their journey)

__**Grade Level:**__ Ninth

__**Subject**:__ World Cultures

__**Role:**__ Journalist for National Geographic

__**Objective**:__ Given a personal blog site and access to the internet, students will describe how the five themes of geography (movement, region, location, interaction between people and the environment and place) apply to Africa b‍‍‍‍‍‍‍y writing daily journal prompts on his/her blog and commenting on a minimum of two other students' blogs each day. ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

__**ISTE Standards:**__ Through the blog process students will create a individual report, and as they review each other's blogs will contribute to the group knowledge. This activity will cover‍‍‍‍‍ [|ISTE*S (student)] ‍‍‍‍‍ standards:
 * **‍‍‍‍‍‍1b - Create original works as a means of personal or group expression. ‍‍‍‍‍‍**
 * **‍‍‍‍‍‍‍2a - Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media. ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍**
 * **3d - Process data and report results.**

__**Audience:**__ Readers of National Geographic (classmates)

__**‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍Requirements ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍:**__ Your blog entry must include the following
 * A list of African nations that you traveled through that day
 * The climate in the part of Africa you traveled through
 * The topography of the Africa you traveled through ( mountainous, desert, savanna, etc)
 * The uses of the land ( farming, mining, fishing, unusable etc)
 * A comparison of the days journey with the previous day
 * An adventure that happened while on your journey
 * One picture included ‍‍‍

__**Step by Step Directions:**__
 * 1) ‍Before instruction, the teacher should prepare his/her own blog in order to demonstrate expectations as well as to be knowledgeable on how to navigate the blog site  ‍. Exploring the blog site and becoming familiar with the set-up is crucial in order to teach the students how to use it.
 * 2) The students will then use www.blogger.com to create their blog pages. The teacher will walk students through the steps of creating their own personal blog.
 * 3) Once all of the blogs have been created, the teacher will demonstrate how to post an entry. At this step he will also show the class an example of a post that he created for this project, pointing out the necessary elements (requirements) of the project. How to post comments will also be discussed.
 * 4) Next, the students will <range type="comment" id="60381">begin their journey. (There must be a total of 12 entries since it will be a 12 day journey).
 * 5) After each journey day, the students will blog the required information.
 * 6) When entering the room each day, students must comment on at least two of their classmates blogs before beginning their individual research.
 * 7) By the end of the project students should have created 12 total blog entries and have a minimum of 24 total comments on their classmates blogs.
 * 8) <range type="comment" id="258319">‍‍Sources for information and images must be cited. Students will also in the context of their blog provide links to references and sources. ‍‍

__**<range type="comment" id="674709">‍‍‍‍Learning Focused Lesson Plan ‍‍‍‍**__

__**Unit Question**__- Why should the United States be concerned with historical and current issues affecting Africa?

__**Essential Question:**__ How has geography contributed to the diversity of Africa?

__**Key Question**__- How does climate differ across Africa?

__**Key Vocabulary**__ Movement Location Interaction Region Place Topography Climate Tropical Wet Tropical Wet/Dry Savanna Desert

__**<range type="comment" id="890823">Activating Strategy **__ The teacher will demonstrate an example of a blog entry for the students to model what a proper entry would look like. Below is an example. The students will then complete a PMI chart based on directions and the example. P standing for what they see as positive about the assignment, M as what they see as a minus or possible negative (hopefully their can then be clarifications) and I, what the students find intriguing.

//Journal Day #5//
//Nations Traveled Through Today:// //Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo), Central African Republic, Chad//

//Dear Journal:// //Today’s journey was not an easy one for me for many reasons. We traveled through two tough climate zones – tropical and tropical wet and dry. The temperature for most of the day was above 86 ° F and wow was it humid! – It was worse than the last two days. For part of the day we traveled on roads – some parts paved, but mostly dirt and most of the day was spent trying to get through the lush plant growth that covers this area. Much of the land is tropical rain forest and is being cut down to clear the land for farming. The land is not that good for farming after a couple of years though, so then they cut down more trees. It’s a sad situation. Tomorrow we continue on. Hope the insects aren’t as bad!//



__**Checks for Understanding**__ 20 minutes into the class, the teacher will do a check for understanding and stop the class to ask for examples done to this point and any questions or clarifications. Hearing classmates share their examples of what they have should help students who are struggling to get started.

__**<range type="comment" id="277004">‍Summarizing Strategy ‍**__ Students will be asked to check out one of their classmates blogs and practice leaving a comment. The teacher will demonstrate how this is to be completed. <range type="comment" id="284711">‍‍‍‍‍‍‍Student comments should be substantial and should either compare or contrast the environments of various African nations. This will prepare for the activating strategy the remainder of the unit. ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

__**Activating Strategy (following day)**__ Before returning to creating their own research and blog entries, students will comment on a minimum of two classmates to start class. This will activate their prior knowledge- what they have learned through their journey so far- and prepare them to make connections to their future blog entries.

(I was away for a majority of this week's assignment and originally this Blueprint Page did not exist. The lesson plan below can also be viewed at the bottom of the Group 2 page with some comments/suggestions/etc)

Name: Ashley Stoner Unit: General Class Management Subject: General Lesson: Schoology Intro Grade: 9-12 Duration: 45 minutes/1 class period

Materials: 1) Computer with internet access per each students 2) Teaching computer with projector and screen

Objectives: 1) Given a brief lecture/demonstration, students will be able to view a view describing the various tools of Schoology, with 100% accuracy. 2) Given a practice session, students will be able to navigate the Schoology website with 80% accuracy.

Standards: 1) ISTE.NETS.T.2.a Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity 2) ISTE.NETS.T.3.c Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats

<range type="comment" id="354663468_3">Procedure:</range id="354663468_3"> 1) Students will sign on to the computers using their log on information. 2) Students will open the video in their class folder labeled “Schoology Intro”. 3) Students will watch the introduction video on what features Schoology can provide. 4) Students will continue to watch the video, made through Screencast-O-Matic (Group 3) which will show a particular skill and then ask the student to pause the video. 5) Students will use that pause to demonstrate or do the skill explained in that portion of the video before moving on. 6) Students will continue to watch the tutorials and navigate the site until it is complete.

**Joe:** Hey Group 2! I already commented on Ashley's lesson plan blueprint, so I thought I would do the same for the one posted above Ashley's as well. I love the idea of having the students create a blog where they write journal entries of what it would be like for them to travel throughout the African countries. I reason I thought a lesson like this would be so effective, and that your group was spot on with the standards you included, is because it allows the students to be very creative with visiting a variety of websites that provide insight on the geography, culture, history, and numerous other characteristics of various African countries. By having the students write a dairy of their travels, they are establishing somewhat of a personal connection with these African countries, which will go a long way in helping the students better understand how much assistance these African countries need today. In the end, the students brainstorm would be in a better position to brainstorm possible ways the United States and other countries could offer aid to African countries. I love how the students are asked to comment on their classmates' blogs because it will be through their feedback that their classmates make important revisions and/or are provided new ideas of how to improve their blogs. Great job!