This final project is modeled after the "sample brainstorm" school-year planning form as described below.   This project should be specific to literacy/technology plans.  You can (and should) use resources you have developed in this course (lesson plan, on-line resources you have found, etc).  Use the table feature in Word and submit your work that way … or put each month on a separate PPT frame … or put your plan on a webpage and submit the URL to me. If you develop a Word document (or Publisher file) upload your assignment submit to Dr. Petty in the Assignments section of Blackboard (please note that you must SEND me the file as opposed to clicking ADD when you upload the file).

     This is an example of what I did to plan the WebQuests that I would use during the monthly themes I taught in my second grade classroom:  http://www.pampetty.com/webquests/planning.htm.  What you are going to be designing is SIMILAR to that in some respects.  Your table will include cross threads, special projects and showcase events that SPECIFICALLY FEATURE technology applications in LITERACY.  

• CROSS THREADS:  Julie M. Wood (Literacy OnLine:  New Tools for Struggling Readers and Writers, Heinemann, 2004) defines cross threads as

                  "long term initiatives that you'd like to launch in the fall that you can build on throughout the school year" (p. 140)

• an example of a cross thread would be an on-line portfolio of students' writing

• you should plan at least TWO cross threads in your August - May Technology Integration Plan

• SPECIAL PROJECTS:  Wood (Literacy OnLine:  New Tools for Struggling Readers and Writers, Heinemann, 2004) indicates that special projects should

                "map onto your overarching literacy goals for the year" (p. 141)

• an example of a special project would be student produced e-books from a writing portfolio piece they would like to publish

• you should plan at least SIX special projects (one per theme you teach, one per month, one per content area, one per language arts application - reading, writing, listening, speaking, technology)

• SHOWCASE EVENTS:  Wood (Literacy OnLine:  New Tools for Struggling Readers and Writers, Heinemann, 2004) indicates that special projects provide opportunities to invite others to view/participate in technology events from your classroom (p. 142)

  • an example might be an Open House for Family and Friends, an Author's night, a demonstration event, etc.

  • you should plan one Showcase Event to take place in the fall and one for the spring

•  You should include the lesson plan you wrote for the Software Competencies task for this course as an idea for a PROJECT your class would do. 

• You should include some of the ideas for hardware integration that you listed on the table you made. 

•  You should note specific URLs from the Electronic Resources you investigated and explain how the site(s) will be used in your classroom. 

• You do not have to be as specific as to what would happen DAILY - a monthly overview of planned technology/literacy integration is all that is needed. 

     This integration plan is an opportunity for you to really show that you not only GET IT, but you REALLY GET IT and plan to USE it.  Use the proper terminology - make sure you are STRETCHING what you have done in the past - make sure you have DEPTH in the DIVERSE ways you incorporate technology (in other words, do NOT give me a whole page of WebQuests you plan to use). 

     Start with thinking about themes, special events, and your curriculum.  Where are natural "fits" in those structures for literacy and technology integration?  Something like ... A science project that features one of Robert Ballard's book about the Titanic and matches that with a webcam of the ship on the ocean floor (I have no idea if that actually exists) as part of a "Science and the Real World" series you are planning for the month of October.   This might culminate in a Showcase Event at which students set up kiosks and invite parents or other classes to visit them as they explain disasters - both natural and man-made - from around the world.  Students might utilize PPT, graphics displays, streaming video, and the use of the Internet. 

 

 (rubric for this task)