Jeffrey R. Bouwman
EDT 520/522
Winter 2008
Social Network
Audience: Fourth Grade Students
Instructional Objectives:
This social network will allow fourth grade students to use various technological resources (a blog, an RSS feed, photo slideshows, and digital videos) to view and respond to informational content across the curriculum. Students will be able to add his/her ideas and related content to the social network.
Rationale for Tool Used:
Ning is an excellent resource that allows one to create an engaging social network. An educator can design his/her own social network that incorporates emerging technological resources. Ning is a user-friendly free resource, that when set up correctly, is safe for students to use.
Student Safety:
Ning allows educators to create safely designed social networks. Social networks can be set up for private use, thus keeping all outsiders from communicating with students. Ning provides educators with the opportunity to moderate all comments and content before information is made public.
Fourth Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCEs):
* Language Arts
L.RP.04.01 listens to or views knowledgeably and discusses a variety of genre and compares their responses to those of their peers.
L.RP.04.05 responds to and summarizes the major ideas and evidence presented in spoken messages and formal presentations.
* Science
L.OL.E.1 Life Requirements- Organisms have basic needs. Animals and plants need air, water, and food. Plants also require light. Plants and animals use food as a source of energy and as a source of building material for growth and repair.
S.IP.04.11 Make purposeful observation of the natural world using the appropriate senses.
S.IP.04.12 Generate questions based on observations.
* Social Studies
4 – G2.0.2 Compare human and physical characteristics of a region to which Michigan belongs (e.g., Great Lakes, Midwest) with those of another region in the United States.
4 – G5.0.1 Assess the positive and negative effects of human activities on the physical environment of the United States.
4 – E1.0.8 Explain why public goods (e.g., libraries, roads, parks, the Mackinac Bridge) are not privately owned.
4 – P4.2.1 Develop and implement an action plan and know how, when, and where to address or inform others about a public issue.
4 – P4.2.2 Participate in projects to help or inform others.
Link to Jeffro’s Space - http://jeffro61.ning.com/
Options: / Visual Image(s): / Ideas for Implementation:Photos /
/ Photos will be used in Blog discussions.
– Language Arts – Constructed Response
– Social Studies – MI physical characteristics
Videos / 1. “Character Education” – This funny video can serve as a writing prompt. Students can discuss feelings and perspective.
2. “Annual Mackinaw Labor Day Bridge Walk” – This video allows students to discuss annual traditions.
3. “Food Webs” – This video helps students differentiate between food chains and food webs.
4. “A Series of Unfortunate Events” – This video can serve as a picture walk, highlighting the books in a series.
5. “Move!” – This video shows the power of a Great Lakes freighter; many students can not visualize the size of a freighter.
6. “The Soo Locks” – This video shows how a freighter travels through a series of locks to go from one Great Lake to another. / Videos will be used in Blog discussions.
– Language Arts – Constructed Responses
– Social Studies – MI physical characteristics, human impact, & public goods
– Science – Food Webs
RSS Feed / The Detroit News – Pistons Information
http://www.detroitnews.com / This RSS feed will keep members informed to a favorite local sports team.
– Social Studies – Current Events/News
Members / An interactive Members Box / Allows members to see who is part of the network. Allows for easy communication.
– Language Arts –Communication/Responding
Blog / An interactive Blog Box. Members are allowed to post ideas and respond to others. / Can be used for Language Arts purposes.
- Language Arts – Constructed Response
Latest Activity / An interactive box that shows changes made to the Social Network. / Allows members to locate new information.
- Language Arts – Viewing new information