Final Project Proposal
Please post your thinking as to what your class project / prototype will be. State who your target audience is and the primary goal(s) you have for the interaction. Please make your initial entry here, and comment on at least two other project ideas from your classmates offering encouragement and suggestions. We can assist each other as we work through these beginning stages of the process.
My audience is entry-level learners who have little knowledge or skill in the operation of computers.
My project goals are at the end of the lecture you will be able to load Windows, use word, and use Google.
DOLORES,
GREAT PROJECT PROPOSAL! WHAT NECESSARY SKILLS YOU WILL BE PROVIDING TO ENTRY LEVEL LEARNERS!
DURING YOUR LECTURE WILL THE AUDIENCE BE INTERACTIVELY WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU AS CO-RESEARCHERS AND OBTAIN HANDS ON LEARNING EXPERIENCE, OR ARE YOU GOING TO LECTURE AND THEN LET THEM GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT ON THEIR OWN?
DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO MULTIPLE COMPUTERS OR ONE FOR EACH STUDENT TO DO THIS PROJECT AT THE SAME TIME OF YOUR LECTURE SO THEY CAN PRACTICE INTERACTIVELY OR WILL YOU HAVE SOME STUDENTS COME TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS AS YOU ACT AS THE FACILITATOR OR COACH IN THE PROJECT?
I AM A KINESTHETIC LEARNER AND LEARN BEST BY “DOING”, I KNOW THAT THE INTERACTIVE PIECE WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL IF I COULD LOAD WINDOWS, USE WORDS AND GOOGLE WHILE YOU WERE LECTURING RATHER THAN GIVING INSTRUCTIONS AND SENDING ME OFF ON MY OWN TO DO ISOLATIONALLY OR WITH A FRIEND. IN MY CLASSROOM WE ONLY HAVE 2 COMPUTERS AND SO MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO HAVE THE LEARNERS PRACTICE DURING YOUR LECTURE AND IF YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TOOLS OR COMPUTERS TO MAYBE HEAD TO THE COMPUTER LAB SO EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE AT THE SAME TIME-I THINK THIS WAY THEY WILL LEARN BEST BY “DOING” TOO. GOOD LUCK, SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE VERY ORGANIZED AND OFF TO A GREAT START!
My audience is kindergarten students.
My project goal is to use an interactive non-linear PowerPoint for students to learn “drill and kill” math concepts including: identifying different coins and their amounts; identifying numbers, number quantities and number sequences; identifiying and extending patterns; and sorting. (I’m not yet sure how to incorporate the sorting…) I will use a menu with hyperlinks so that I can have a student go directly to the set of number skills I have chosen for that time, whether it be about money, numbers, patterns, or sorting.
This will help fill a gap I see in store-bought software, such as the JumpStart brands. That is, the store-bought software I have evaluated takes too much time and teacher involvement to get my students to the place in the program where I want them to work on specific skills. With JumpStart Kindergarten Math, for example, there is always a long introduction telling a story about getting prizes for a giant’s birthday party. In addition, I have to keep referring back to the paper CD menu to figure out on which “cloud” each skill activity can be located.
With an interactive non-linear PowerPoint, my students can get to work immediately on skills I have selected. The big plus is that I don’t have to use my own $$ to purchase software.
My target audience is kindergarten students.
My project goal is to create an interactive PowerPoint that helps students practice print and book awareness concepts, high-frequency words, and reading. Students will be able to hear decodables books read to them and then will be asked to click on parts of the book to answer questions.
Learners will be able to use the mouse to right and left click, point, and scroll.
Learners will use Microsoft Word to create folders, write a letter, save and retrieve information.
Learners will use the Internet to send E-mails, Google search, and basic security.
The lecture will take place in the computer lab, so everyone can perform each step following my demonstrations using both a projector and power point.
Jessica,
I like your target audience (he he). I think your PowerPoint is a great idea; I can’t wait to see it. Students need to be able to manipulate in order to learn–especially kindergartners.
My audience will be college freshmen and sophomores. The primary goal will be to show that in some cases variation in use and style of a language is better for communication than clinging to paradigms of grammar.
Jessica,
Are you going to us PPT to teach and to quiz? Are you doing word/ number differentiation and word/ sentence? WIll they identify a book, magazine, and news paper? I really like this age and believe that many types of learning shoud be based on how we appeal to 5 year olds. I do not believe that our learning capacities, baring illness and injury, change much. I look foreward to seeing your work.
Jeff
Jeff,
I like your goal of showing how to use variation in use and style of a language versus following strict rules of grammar. Grammar was made fto serve the writer (and reader) and not the other way around, in my opinion. Having majored in English lit, I sometimes regret that I don’t get to teach much about writing in kindergarten. What types of interactive writing activities will your students complete? Will you be using the works of any particular writers as models? I’m eager to see what your presentation will look like.
Thnkflhrt,
I like your idea about incorporating the math concepts into a non- linear powerpoint. May I suggest for sorting and classifying Kidspiration. It might work. Good Luck!
I think I would like to do a non-linear powerpoint dealing with the addition and subtraction of two and three digit numbers since that is a key skill in 2nd grade. I really liked Lance’s powerpoint and would love to do something along those lines. I think I might incorporate pictures/things from the class into it.
*** Sidenote- Everyone’s projects sound great***
My target audience are 5th grade students.
I am thinking about doing a non-linear powerpoint that will practice math concepts. For example, practicing comparing fractions. My goal is for the students to get extra practice after the lesson and throughout the week. i t can be used as an intervention for students who are having difficulty with the concept. This powerpoint might given them a different viewpoint and excitement to learn and master the objective.
Jessica-
your idea sounds great. Is it going to be used with all students, or struggling students…before or after your lesson? Or is it the actual lesson itself?
Jeff-
I think it is great to incorporate technology in your courses. College level courses seem to be based solely on lectures and notes. I think changing it up and giving them another avenue to explore and learn is great.
Carolyn,
I agree that language grammar is meant to serve. I believe that the use of grammar is strictly contextual (speaker and audience). For instance,
If a burglar in the dark asks who’s there?
The answer my dog and I are here.
Is lacking
not as communicative as
me bubba and my six dogs, Smith and Wesson.
Aint poetry grand!
The assignment won’t be written as much as an actual analysis of language context. Additionally, with your encouragement I may include BAE (per Toni Morrison quotes); “me be jus fine” Or, maybe some Island Pigeon “no worries bra”! Language is a beautiful thing. Maybe we will getsome polyglot!But, d guys no kat’a linon me, I be beat lika’dawg or maybe got no luv…Thanks for the reply!
Jeff
Thanks Chris,
I agree those college level courses are too dependant on articles, lectures, and tests. Definitely not enough variations of learning.
On your PowerPoint, will it be straight foreword or will you design a game or interactive environment? How about using an outhouse w/a flushing sound for a wrong answer and a money stack w/ cool music for a correct response. I do not know if these are appropriate but, the idea is that humor is a type of situated memory device (emotionally situated memory) the has been proven to work.
Jeff
Jeff-
I just read your post in regards to Chris’s project and the idea of sounds is great. I am going to now incorporate it into mine. Thanks!
I can not wait to see Carolyn’s powerpoint. The skills she is focusing on are those math skills you briefly review EVERY DAY during calendar. I hate the boring repetition of the calendar. My first first idea for my first exposure to powerpoint was to automate the calendar. It failed and I am looking forward to seeing what Carolyn does. I only hope my project is as interesting as hers so she is thrilled to share!!!
Jessica’s project also sounds great!! Combining the computer with reading practice is brillant. With our little ones, reading is what it is all about!!! Providing them with one more opportunity to read is great!! Again, I look forward to making a super project worthy of a share!!!
I am not sure why I am having such a hard time choosing an idea!!! I really have spent a lot of thing thinking about it. Should I try math? I already know a great site for addition (www.dositey.com) Why make something I do not need? I have always wanted to animate my calendar but is choral reciting considered interactive. I have been collecting websites and songs and clips for this so most of it would not be original and can you hyperlink to a website in a powerpoint? So reading, sight words, sounds or blending? Okay…I will do an interactive powerpoint on sight words. (Maybe)
Chris,
My project would be used after the lesson and with all students because right now they could all use the extra practice. Although some students may only need to view a story once while for struggling students it would be beneficial for them to view it multiple times.
Nicol,
I think that sight words would be a great idea for a project but I also think that something that has to do with the blending of sounds would be cool. I know that no matter what you decide to do it will be great!
Delores
I should take this course sounds good
Chris
That sounds like a good project, the thing I like most is the part of doing something that kids are going to enjoy. When ever a kid can enjoy learning it’s a plus.
I want to do a powerpoint project to practice positive and negative numbers.