Online Projects, Collaboration Sites, and Publishing Opportunities

Name: Becka Boot

Grade Level: fourth grade
Content Area: Science
Standards Addressed:
S4L1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the roles of organisms and the flow
of energy within an ecosystem.
Title of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity:
Journey North
URL of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity:
https://www.learner.org/jnorth/
Describe how you would use the Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing
Opportunity in your classroom: Students will be able to learn more about ecosystem as they
go out on their own and compile data about the animals and plants that they see and how the
ecosystem affects them. The students will gather this data wherever they go and will then bring it
to class. The teacher will compile that data into a class data sheet and will upload that to the
website. This will allow students to show their work to other students and scientists around the
world.
What technologies would be required to implement this proposed learning activity in a
classroom? There will need to be some technology in this lesson, as the teacher will need to
have access to a computer and software to compile all collected data into one data sheet. The
teacher must also have access to the website in order to publish the work.
Describe how the following features are addressed in this learning experience (note: all of
them may not be addressed in the project, but most should be if you are reaching a high
LoTi Level.):
a. Collaboration with peers, near-peers, mentors outside their classroom and often
beyond their school: The teacher could have a specialist come in and introduce the
topic by taking students on a nature walk and observing the different habitats and
plants and animals seen.
b. Student-centered learning and knowledge creation (collecting original data and or
producing original products as a result of engaging in the project): Students will be
coming up with their own data as the observe the different plants animals and
ecosystems around them.
c. Higher-order thinking: Students will need to be able to analyze the data they are
collecting in order to find connections between the data and what is happening in
the world around them.
d. Students publishing their original work to others who will use/care about their
product: Students data will be compiled and uploaded to the site where other
students and scientists can learn from that data.

Blooms Level of Critical Thinking Required (check all that apply):

See http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Bloom%27s_Taxonomy
Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating Creating

1
What Level of Technology Implementation best describes this learning activity and Why?
This would be LoTi level 5 as the students are creating a project that is going to be useful and
meaningful to an audience outside of the classroom.
How could you implement this proposed learning experience and still comply with your
districts Internet Safety and Student Privacy policies? In this lesson, there is not a big threat
to safety as the teacher will be the one doing the posting on the website. The teacher should,
however, be cautious about what she uploads. There should not be any last names or specific
location information included. The teacher should also have permission slips from all parents
stating that they are okay with the students work being published.