WEBSITE AND CLASSROOM BLOG CREATION TOOLS

Name: Jennifer Ziegler

Directions: Using the template below, describe how students could use a blog, wiki, or other website-
creation tool to learn required learning standards in your content area: For an A grade provide an idea that
reaches a Level of Technology Implementation of 4 or above. Remember higher levels (4-6) require that
students assume adult/professional roles; engage in higher-order thinking; and use technology
create/publish original content for their classmates and/or others beyond their school/classroom. The
learning activities and products should be engaging and meaningful to the students and to others who will
view/use/benefit from students work. Review your handouts on Engaged Learning, Authenticity, and LoTi.
Grade Level: 5th Grade
Content Area: Social Studies
Technology Used (check all that apply):
Blog Wiki Other Website Creation Tool (list):
Content Area/Grade/Standards/Topics Addressed: SS5H3 The student will describe how life changed
in America at the turn of the century. a. Describe the role of the cattle trails in the late 19th century;
include the Black Cowboys of Texas, the Great Western Cattle Trail, and the Chisholm Trail. b.
Describe the impact on American life of the Wright brothers (flight), George Washington Carver
(science), Alexander Graham Bell (communication), and Thomas Edison (electricity). c. Explain how
William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt expanded Americas role in the world; include the
Spanish-American War and the building of the Panama Canal. d. Describe the reasons people
emigrated to the United States, from where they emigrated, and where they settled. e. Describe the
impact of westward expansion on Native Americans; include the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the
relocation of Native Americans to reservations.

ISTE-S Standard: Global Collaborator Students use digital tools to broaden their perspectives and
enrich their learning by collaborating with others and working effectively in teams locally and
globally. Students (a) use digital tools to connect with learners from a variety of backgrounds and
cultures, engaging with them in ways that broaden mutual understanding and learning
Brief Description of Learning Experience:
The learning standards addressed will include SS5H3 of the Georgia Performance Standards which includes
ways life changed in America at the turn of the century. This activity will be an extension project to take
what students have learned and research the topic further. In small groups, students will choose a topic from
the standard (a-e). They will then research it, create a short 10-20minute skit, video that skit OR record a
podcast, and post it to the classroom blog with a description of their research and why it is relevant to
todays society. This project will take place over the course of 2 weeks. One week will be given to research
and prepare the skit. The second week will be to practice, record and publish their work. Skits can be
performed in front of the class, but students are not required to do so. Also, students should assign jobs in
the groups such as actors, director, and videographer. All students must have signed permission slips from
parents to display photo/video and work on the classroom blog.
At the completion of the videos, students will upload their media to the classroom blog along with their
research paper that details why their topic is relevant to society today. A notification will be sent out to
parents via newsletter and digital avenues (Remind, email, text, etc). Parents and family members can view
and comment on the videos. Also, depending on the content of the videos, the teacher might contact the
local historical society to include the video on their website, generating an even larger audience for the
students work.

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 WEBSITE AND CLASSROOM BLOG CREATION TOOLS
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

Student Engagement/Level of Technology Implementation (LoTi): This lesson would be a LoTi level 6
due to the fact that students are creating a video/podcast (using smart phones, tablets, etc), creating a
YouTube file, and uploading that file onto a Blog for outside viewing. The teacher can take this one step
further and offer the students work to the local historical society to help generate excitement in the content
area.

Importance of technology:
Using a website-creation tool (blog in this case) is critical because it allows the students to share their work
with their parents. This is something that cannot be done on a small scale without technology. The project
could be done without the use of technology; however at that point it would simply be a research paper and
will lack active engagement with the topic. By the students creating skits to be recorded, they are
immersing themselves in the subject matter of their choice, creating a deeper connection with the material.
At completion of the project, students will have used computers to research, smart phones or tablets to
record their skits, and the computer again to upload their products to the classroom blog.
Internet Safety and Student Privacy: Some possible issues with this project include: ensuring
all students have signed parental forms that allow their work to be posted and shared. All videos and
research will be reviewed by the teacher to ensure nothing is outside the scope of Internet Safety. If a parent
has an issue with other people sharing their students work, that specific content can be password protected
to comply with their wishes.
Describe your personal learning goal for this activity. What are you trying that you have not tried
before? What do you hope to learn from this activity? How do you hope it will help students learn? I had
never created a classroom blog before. I like the idea of keeping a record of my students learning
throughout the school year. I think this is also a great way to highlight students and demonstrate their
knowledge and capability across content areas.
Other comments about your proposed activity: