Online Projects, Collaboration Sites, and Publishing Opportunities

Name: Leslie Haynie

Grade Level: 5th Grade
Content Area: English Language Arts and
Standards Addressed:
ELAGSE5W1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view
with reasons.
a. Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational
structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writers purpose.
b. Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details.
c. Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequently,
specifically).
d. Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.

SS5CG1 The student will explain how a citizens rights are protected under the
U.S. Constitution. a. Explain the responsibilities of a citizen.
b. Explain the freedoms granted and rights protected by the Bill of Rights.
c. Explain the concept of due process of law and describe how the U.S.
Constitution protects a citizens rights by due process.
Title of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity:
KidPub
URL of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity:
https://www.kidpub.com/
Describe how you would use the Online Project/Collaboration
Site/Publishing Opportunity in your classroom:
Students will be able to write and opinion piece on the United States Constitution,
as we learn about it. They will include both of the ELA and SS standards to
proficiently state their opinions on the topic. Students will then be able to publish
their writing on KidPub.com to receive feedback from their peers and/or other
users. I will also inform my students that this website allows students to submit
their writings into a contest where they have the chance to win an award or
monetary prize.
What technologies would be required to implement this proposed
learning activity in a classroom?
In order to complete this activity, students would only need a computer. They will
handwrite their essays first, and then type them on the computer so students will
need to have typing skills.
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: Once students have
published their writings to the website, they will be able to receive
feedback from other users or viewers.
b. Student-centered learning and knowledge creation (collecting

1
 original data and or producing original products as a result of
engaging in the project): Students will all be able to write their
own opinions about the United States Constitution and what it means
to them. Since it is an opinion piece, students will be collecting data
and producing their own ideas while also including facts that support
their opinions.
c. Higher-order thinking: This learning experience promotes higher-
order thinking because students are not just explaining each subtopic
of the social studies standard. They are writing their own explanation
and opinion on the subtopics pertaining to the United States
Constitution.
d. Students publishing their original work to others who will
use/care about their product: Students final draft that is published
to the website might have effects on other users or viewers. Someone
might agree to their opinions or learn something new about the
constitution that they didnt know before.

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

Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating

Creating
What Level of Technology Implementation best describes this learning
activity and Why?
This learning activity would be considered a LoTi level 5 because students are
using technology to publish and share a product with other individuals outside of
their school and community. These types of learning experiences are motivating
because they are learning through different dimensions and the technology is
completely in the students hands.
How could you implement this proposed learning experience and still
comply with your districts Internet Safety and Student Privacy policies?
Some concerns administrators, teachers, and parents might have about using
online projects, online collaboration sites, and/or online student publishing
opportunities in the classroom would be that students can collaborate with other
individuals whom they do not know anything about and/or students providing too
much information (name, school, state, photo/video of themselves). With this
website, the major concern is collaborating with other users and viewers without
knowing who they are. Teachers can make sure students are safe by monitoring
the students activity on the website and letting parents know beforehand about
their children using this site. This way, students who work on this website outside
of class can continue being monitored by an adult/their parents to make sure they
do not put information out on the Internet.