Country Advertisement Lesson Plan

Grade: 12th Grade
Subject: World Geography
Activity Time: 5 days (40 minutes)

Analyze Learners

1. 20 students
2. 8 males/12 females
3. Ages 16-17
4. Mental, Social, Physical, Social Notes such as:
o Visual, Kinesthetic, and Verbal learners in the classroom
5. Strengthening their critical thinking skills, as well as their ability to communicate.
6. Learning Styles
(Estimate % of Students)
o Visual 35 %
o Auditory (Aural) 25 %
o Kinesthetic (Hands On) 40 %


State Objectives:

Students will create a video advertisement.
Students will be able to use Windows Moviemaker.
Students will evaluate group presentations.
Students will participate in group presentations.
Students will present their video advertisement.


Media, Materials and Methods

All media and materials needed for the lesson are listed, and are lesson appropriate.
• Paper, pen, pencil
• Digital/Video Camera
• Internet
• Multimedia projector
• 2 computers with Moviemaker


Utilize Media, Materials and Methods

Digital/Video Camera: This will be used to create the video advertisement.
Multimedia Projector: This will be used to present the video advertisement.
Internet: This will be used to research country website.
Computers: Students will upload video advertisement to Windows Moviemaker.

Require Learner Participation

Introduction:
Introduce the idea of using Moviemaker to create a video. Practice using and editing moviemaker. Begin to brainstorm ideas of the country to advertise, props they may need, how and where to film the video.

Activity:
Days 1-2:
1. Divide the class into 4 groups of five.
2. Each group will chose a country in Asia.
3. Research state website for data.
4. Criteria for advertisement
a. 20-30 seconds
b. Titles and Credits
c. Flag
d. Climate
e. Language spoken
f. Currency used
g. Major cities
h. Where to stay
i. How to get around (transportation)
j. Historical places to visit.
k. Places to eat
l. Fun things to do (shopping, festivals, sports games, etc).
m. Warnings for all visitors.

Days 3-4:
1. Use Moviemaker to upload the video.
2. Import the media from either the digital video camera.
3. Edit your movie using effects or transitions and include titles and credits.
4. Publish the movie.


Day 5:
1. Use moviemaker and multimedia projector to present video advertisement.
2. Each group will meet to prepare for their presentations.
3. Presentation of video advertisement.


Wrap-up
Reinforce what they have learned from the lesson.


Evaluate and Revise

Student Performance
Students will be evaluated on group presentations and their ability to create a video using Moviemaker. Students will evaluate group presentations using rubrics.


Media Effectiveness
• Was the video advertisement and multimedia projector useful in promoting class discussion? Did it prove useful for visual learners?
• Did the Moviemaker activity work well amongst the class? Was it easy to use? Was it helpful for kinesthetic learners?
• Was the video advertisement helpful in focusing student responses’?

Instructor Performance
• Did the lesson run smoothly? Was it well-planned?
• Did the class respond well to the lesson?
• Were the learning objectives achieved?
• Could the lesson be improved in the future?

Technology Tools to Make Life Easier

Moodles is a website planner. It’s made for Instructors to keep track of each student’s assignments and grades. Students can access the site anytime and anywhere to check their grades and due dates of assignments. Students’ who can’t attend class don’t have to contact the instructor for assignments. It can be accessed from any computer as long as the Internet is available.

Delicious is a website to bookmark websites that you use on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. You can bookmark websites for references or resources. It can also be accessed anytime and anywhere there is a computer and Internet. You don’t have to be at home to access your favorites’ website file. Delicious can be your favorites’ website. Another thing great about this site is you can bundle your bookmarks, so you’re not going through each page looking for a particular website. For example, you can put all websites for education in one bundle and websites for resources in another bundle.

Media Fire is a technology tool for saving your files online and it’s free. I love it, because if I forget or lose my thumb drive, I just need to look for a computer with Internet access. For those of you who are worried about your hard drive being infected with a virus or being fried, no problem you have backup files online. Those who need more space can be a monthly fee.

Skype is another technology tool for email, voice messages, mobile calls, video calls. I absolutely love it. I used it a couple of times to make a video call and plan to keep on using it. The video and audio were clear. This is a great technology tool, especially for those who have a loved one that lives in another country and can’t visit for years.

Google Apps is a technology tool for those who are traveling and don’t have a notebook. You can create a Word document, spreadsheet, and PowerPoint and all you need is a computer and Internet access. You can also save the file online and access it again at a later time, so you don’t need a thumb drive. This is also great for students working in groups, because the files are saved online. Any group member with access can go online and edit the document. There is no need for sending an email of the file. It will also stop the confusion of which file is the current version. It was perfect for sending word documents to your group members. I tried to upload a PowerPoint file, but I couldn’t edit some of the information. So if you’re creating a PowerPoint for your group work, just create it in Google Apps.

Firefox has many features to use. I do like the following features bookmark on the browser, controls for music on the browser, saving tabs before you quit, and customizing your browser to name a few. What I like about Firefox is that you can place bookmarks on the browser. So rather than opening tabs or opening your favorite files. Another feature I like is when you close the browser it asks if you want to save and quit or just quit. So the next time you open up your web browser, it’ll open up the tabs you saved. Then you can bookmark when you have more time. You can listen to music while you surf the net and control it from your browser. It’s also supports many media players. You can also check if a website is legitimate, before you make purchases.

TokBox is a tool for sending email, video calls, video messages, greeting cards, conference calls, blogs, and IM Chat. It still needs to be tweaked as far as the video call. I tried to make a video call, but the connection was slow. I had to end the call and restart. It’s great for sending a video message. It keeps track the length of the video message and you can review your video message before sending it.

Slide Share does exactly what the name says. You can post your PowerPoint presentation online to share with everyone. Anyone can view your presentation online. My group posted two group presentations with Slide Share. The problem we encountered with Slide Share was the PowerPoint with a video clip did not upload.

Writing a Multimedia Lesson Plan

I would use NETS*T standards 1B, 2B, 2D, 2E, 3B, 3D, 4A, 4B, and 4C. Students will create a video advertisement of a country and present it to the class. They will demonstrate their technology knowledge and skills. All students will be evaluated by the Teacher as well as their peers using a presentation rubric.

This lesson plan was not as still difficult, because I am more technology proficient and familiar with the ASSURE lesson plan. I did have a difficult time deciding which two type of multimedia the students will be using to complete the lesson. Another difficulty with the lesson plan was what type of activity to assign the students and how they could use a multimedia. I also didn’t know if it was going to run smoothly or if enough time was allotted for the activity.

I used the search engine mamma.com to search on how to use Windows Moviemaker. I used Windows Moviemaker to create a 20 second video, edit the video, and create the title and credits. I wanted to see how user friendly the program would be for the student. I also wanted to see if I would be able to teach the student how the use the program in one day.

I think we didn’t have enough time to create this multimedia lesson plan. The number one thing about creating lesson plans is the planning. It doesn’t take one day to create a lesson plan. It takes a lot of creative thinking, especially when you’re not a technology teacher, and not used to using these tools in or out of the classroom. It takes time to get use to the tools and to incorporate it into every lesson plan, because every lesson plan has different strategies.

The best part of preparing a multimedia lesson plan was learning to use Windows Moviemaker. I’ve heard of the program Moviemaker, but until I attended this class, I would never have used the program. It sounded like a difficult program to use, until I started playing with the program. Creating the multimedia lesson plan showed me that technology can be incorporated into any lesson plan. Lesson plans can be planned for students to write a paper using MS Word or PowerPoint or creating a video using Moviemaker. Teachers need to incorporate technology into their lesson plans, because technology is here to stay and getting more innovative. Students are more technology savvy than the adults. Technology lesson plans can be for one day or one week.



References:
NETS*S. http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_for_Teachers_2008.htm [Retrieved 13 February 2009]
Microsoft. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/create/polish.mspx [Retrieved 31 March 2009]

Using Assistive Technology in the Classroom

It used to be challenging having disabled students attend a regular classroom environment, but with today’s technology, that just isn’t the case. Thanks to Assistive/Adaptive Technology disabled students can function in a classroom just like any other student. With Assistive/Adaptive Technology disabled students with little to no hand movements, visual, or speech impairments students are able to read, write, and communicate, what they’ve learned. Whether it is Math, Social Studies, Language Arts, or Science disabled students are learning and having fun too.

For students with reading difficulties or visually impaired the textbook can be uploaded or scanned into the computer. The computer will read the book to the student while using headphones so as not to disturb the other students. Students who are not able to speak can use a device to assist them. The teacher can have words programmed into this device and have commands sent by a head mounted infrared pointer or by pressing a single finger to one key. For students who are visually impaired there are books written in Braille. The text can also be converted to Braille and printed for the student to read.

Teachers must modify lesson plans to include disabled students, because the child has a type of disability that will prevent him/her from being able to learn. The student will need some type of assistance or learning tool. The disabled student’s Individualized Education Program or IEP informs teachers of the type of disability and what type of modification the disabled student will need to complete the assignments.

Lesson plans should always be modified to include disabled students. This will make the disabled student feel like they are just as normal as any other student. It makes them feel a sense of belonging and that they are treated like any other student. The assignments may be modified, but they are learning like every other student in class.

There are different Assistive/Adaptive Technology tools available for disabled students, it is just depends upon the type of disability. There are sound-activated switches, treadle switches for those with arm, elbow, and foot or knee control. There is the pillow switch, which is a soft, fabric covered switch often used when activation is by a facial movement. The sip-and-puff switch controlled by voluntary inhaling and exhaling, used by those with spinal cord injuries. The eyeglass switched is activated by a purposeful eye movement and the arm slot control switch is for those without fine motor control.

So with Assistive/Adaptive Technology no matter what type of disability there is a tool available. It’s just a matter of assessing what the disabled student can do and learning to use the Assistive/Adaptive Technology tool.

Writing a Technology Lesson Plan

I would use The NETS*T standards of Assessment and Evaluation for the digital lesson plan. Students will conduct a survey, use a spreadsheet, create a column chart or bar graph, and present the findings, which will meet all three learning objectives and standards.

At first, I thought preparing a lesson plan would be easy because I’ve done it several times. I was wrong. It was difficult, because it wasn’t just another lesson plan. It was a new format of preparing a lesson plan and a lesson plan using technology, which was new to me. The format was different than what I was used to. I had to decide the type of activity and data to collect in order to assign it to the students using technology. I also didn’t know if it was going to run smoothly or if enough time was allotted for the activity.

I used the search engine dogpile.com to search for rubrics and several examples of ASSURE lesson plans. I also used the excel spreadsheet to input the data and create a bar graph. Instead of trying to create a group presentation rubric for this lesson plan, I was able to search online for rubrics that I liked. I found many different websites with rubrics. I finally decided on Teachnology, a website that creates a rubric using your objectives, school name, title of rubric, and teacher name placed on it. You were able to choose a picture for your rubric, so it made it personal too.

The best part of preparing the digital lesson plan was seeing the different samples of lesson plans. It intimidated me, but at the same time made me want to work harder. It helped me to understand that there really isn’t one way to prepare a lesson plan, just a format. You can be as creative, as long as the substitute teacher understands how to execute your lesson plan. It also made me want to prepare a lesson plan equivalent to or even better than the samples I reviewed. It can be a lesson plan for one day or one week.

References:
NETS*S. http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_for_Teachers_2008.htm [Retrieved 13 February 2009]

Teachnology. http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/ [Retrieved 11 February 2009]

This is the link for my bookmarks:

http://delicious.com/ducruz