Project+Statement

**1. Describe your proposed project briefly. ** Project Overview: 3 schools across the state of GA will work through an interdisciplinary unit covering various aspects of nature. Students will engage in a Skype conference at the beginning of the unit to complete the beginning of a K-W-L Chart explaining the expected findings and what they want to learn about nature as the unit progresses. Math, Social Studies, and Language Arts will cover various aspects of unit in the daily lessons. Students will document findings as the week progresses; at the end of the unit, students will meet again with the collaborating schools to report findings and compare differences across the state.
 * Project Statement **

**2. How will you improve learner performance by engaging learners in authentic experiences? ** Learners will participate in a group effort that requires them to collect scientific data in their own real world setting and use technology to collect and share information with schools out of their area. Students are learning through a real world experience as opposed to traditional conceptualizations.

**3. How will you facilitate learning through constructivist, collaborative learning experiences? ** Students will perform science learning core concepts that require problem solving skills along the way. It is the instructor’s responsibility to stay away from the didactic approach to classroom management and allow students to learn through discovery and collaboration using technology as a tool to engage outside sources.

**4. How will you create sound instructional materials and learning environments that are based on solid research and learning theory? ** Through reflective teaching instructional materials and learning environments will be chosen to best fit the student’s needs within the groups. There will be a wide range of resources available to students as they take charge of their learning.

**5. How will you facilitate the use of innovations through the diffusion and integration of new technologies and technological experiences for your learners? ** Students will be exposed to a variety of technology tools and resources to assist them during this project. Such technologies as interactive websites and numerous multimedia tools which facilitate audio, video and images will be incorporated throughout. Tools within the classroom will not be limited to interactive whiteboards, the school computer lab, video conferencing, blogs, and wikis.

**<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">6. How will you most effectively manage this process? ** <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The teacher will serve as the program manager for the unit. The teacher will ensure that all necessary materials are gathered for the unit, and he/she will communicate with the collaborating teachers to set up times to meet via Skype. Teachers will make sure that all students have the basic technology ability to successful complete the project; technology will be integrated in various ways throughout the unit. Students will work with collaborative groups in the classroom. Each group will have a project manager. The project manager will oversee the completion of the tasks that the group completes. The project manager must be a dependable, responsible student. The project manager will also ensure that each student is on task and serving as an active group member.

<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">7. What ethical considerations will you make to ensure sound decisions are made? ** <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Students need to be informed and reminded of appropriate internet usage. Students will be working with technology throughout the completion of the unit. The instructor should review plagiarism with students before beginning the project. Students need to display academic honesty while they collaborate on the project; each student should equally contribute to the group.

<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">8. What processes and resources will you include? ** <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Resources used will not be limited to the Internet, [|Teacher Tube], [|United Streaming], Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, USGS website ([]), Google Earth ([]), The Georgia Museum of Natural History website ([]),

<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">9. Describe the learning environment and population that will be engaged in your project: **

<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**__<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Burian’s Classroom: __**// <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Audience **////**<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">: **// Laine and Margaret’s classrooms <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Learner characteristics **////**<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">: **// 23 fifth graders, multiple learning levels <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Anticipated entry level skills of audience **////**<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">: **// Basic computer skills, research skills <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">School environment **////**<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">: **// Public elementary school grades Pre-K through fifth <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Support for project by community, parents, or administrators **////**<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">: **// Our school has a strong parental support group of volunteers that are willing to help along with the research process

<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**__<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Laine’s Classroom: __**// <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Audience **////**<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">: **// Burian and Margaret’s classrooms <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Learner characteristics: **// 24 5th graders, all learning levels <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Anticipated entry level skills of audience: **// Basic computer skills, <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">School environment **////**<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">: **// Public math and science charter school <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Support for project by community, parents, or administrators: **// Our school environment is very supportive of projects and activities which enrich math and science activities that promote and implement Georgia Performance Standards.

<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">** //__<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Margaret’s Classroom: __// ** <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Audience **////**<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">: **// Laine and Burian’s classrooms <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Learner characteristics **////**<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">: **// 7th Grade Math <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Anticipated entry level skills of audience **////**<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">: **// 28 students. A Collaborative Classroom with special education students and a co-teacher. <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">School environment **////**<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">: **// Middle School, wide range of students, all demographics and socio economic statuses are evenly distributed <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//**<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">Support for project by community, parents, or administrators **////**<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif';">: **// My school focuses on completing standards based curriculum tasks that are cross curricular and promote problem solving and critical thinking skills.