Module 5 Blog

I responded to Wandra Coffield and Charlotte Vaughn for module 5 blog.
http://carollee387.blogspot.com
http://charlottevaughn.blogspot.com


There was an introductory lesson I planned at the beginning of the school year and I was met with disappointing results. I had completed 2 quarters of classes through Walden University and I made plans to use more technology in my classroom. The subject was World History and studying ancestors fit in well. I decided to have the students, who were mostly 10th graders, create a family tree. First,the students would get as much information from their parents on both sides of the family. Next, the students would take the information and make a family tree and share a small presentation. I spent the majority of the time that was spent in class for the project, showing the students how to put the presentation together and how to make a family tree. The students knew how to chat, check and receive e-mail, and complete searches. They did not know how to organize and put together information to share with other people.
The students took much more time than I had expected. They did not have the skills needed to complete the assignment, and I assumed they did. The students did not get to work and did a large amount of talking. They did not know how to get started on the project, so they talked.
I learned that I should not assume that all students know how to do something. I have decided to stretch the project out through the first nine weeks and make it a mid-term project. Ths will give more relevance to the assignment (Driscoll, 2005). In order for students to have any confidence, they will need instruction on how to plan and organize a presentation. After students know what is expected, they are able to focus on the assignment.