Middle+School+Persuasive+PBL+Assignment+2

This lesson has been designed for 7th and 8th grade students. It is the second in a series of lesson designed around the Project Based Learning methodology.

ISTE NETS-S
 * 1) Creativity and innovation
 * 2) Communication and collaboration
 * 3) Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making
 * 4) Digital citizenship
 * 5) Technology operations and concepts

This lesson continues with the Library expansion debate in Manchester, Connecticut. Some people in town believe that the Library is too small to serve an ever-growing town, and needs to expand. Others believe that expanding into the adjacent park would be a serious blow to the environment and the park system as a whole.

For this assignment, students will use video cameras or still pictures to explain their position, either for or against the library expansion. Learners will use iMovie to edit together their pictures and movies and record a voice track which will explain their group’s position. Once edited, the piece will be uploaded to voicethread.com where the movie is hosted. Once The movies have been uploaded to the site; other groups will make comments, by either text or audio. This may be done directly on the site about the movie, which will give the group the opportunity to reflect on their work.

The learning outcomes for this lesson include the ability to write persuasively, using video and still editing software, utilizing the Voicethread site as a means to discuss work. The experience also allows learners to reflect on their own positions.

The Voicethread software will serve as the social networking tool in this particular lesson. Once students make comments to others work, and in turn reflect on their own projects, they will begin what it feels like to be part of an online academic community. This software will also be a relief to teachers who may be concerned if their students were using a traditional social networking program like Facebook or Myspace. I would be hesitant to use these programs because they may end up being more of a distraction than the academic experience we want them to have in the classroom.

This lesson is certainly appropriate for all students because they will be working in teacher selected heterogeneous groups. These groupings will ensure that all groups have different ability levels, and members help each other when problems arise. The teacher will act as a facilitator during the process, to answer questions about writing and using the different software.

Creative thinking will need to be used by all groups while they form their opinions and will certainly be in action during the editing portion of the project.

Student learning will be assessed by using a predetermined rubric. The rubric will evaluate the persuasive writing process, video editing and contribution made to other group work in the class.

The classroom management for this lesson will entail forming the groups, providing class time for the writing process and access to the computer lab. Students will also be given permission to sign out video recorders from the media center to complete their projects.