Using the Internet and Powerpoint to Learn About Virginia

Virginia

A Hypermedia Presentation/ Web Search for English Language Learners

Christina Holt

GeorgeMasonUniversity

EDCI 519: Dr. Haley

Using the internet and PowerPoint to learn about Virginia

Student Population/Content Area:

My audience for the Virginia power point would be students in the 4th grade in the state of Virginia. Fourth graders must know several facts about Virginia in order to pass the 4th grade History SOL. The children using this presentation can be English Language Learners and their native English speaking companions. The project is differentiated in a way so that students can look at pictures and click on a topic to clarify their understanding of a particular topic. The PowerPoint is designed to be learner friendly so that the teacher will be able to print out the PowerPoint for students to write on and to help them follow along with the project.

Project Overview:

This project was created to help students find information about Virginia such as the state bird, state nickname, etcin a fun and technologically stimulating fashion. Instead of simply having a teacher stand at the front of the classroom and give students information, this project allows for students to search through information on the web and search for things on their own. In this hypermedia web search teachers can either guide their students through the presentation or allow students to individually guide themselves through the learning experience. If teachers choose to allow students to peruse on their own they will be able to roam around the room to help various students search for information. The guide that goes along with the PowerPoint is designed to help students go beyond what is already in the project in a variety of different manners to account for different language levels and learning styles. Some of the information that the students are asked to find can be drawn and/or written to accommodate students with basic language skills. This project also includes information that could easily coincide with other disciplines such as science, music, art, and physical education.

On the handout, students will be able to click on websites to explore and be challenged to learn more about basic information about Virginia. Some of the information is already provided, but the handout allows for students to further challenge themselves to find information on the internet. By allowing students to find and create information on their own, information retention is increased. The students will be able to use picture clues to better understand the information presented within the PowerPoint web search. This PowerPoint is also open ended so that teachers can add extra hyperlinks or information to suit the individuals within their own classrooms.

Five Proficiency Levels

Starting Level

Students at the starting level will be provided with more teacher support if needed. These students will visit the websites, but will only have to draw information that they gain from the websites.

Emerging

These students will also be offered more teacher guidance and will have the opportunity to draw the information that they get from the websites. These students will be encouraged to add one word phrases to the pictures that they provide.

Developing

These students will have to write one or two word answers to the questions on the handout. They will also be encouraged to create a picture that represents the information that they gain from the websites, but with less teacher guidance.

Expanding

These students will be expected to write simple sentences explaining the information that they gain from the websites. They will also be welcome to draw artistic representations of the material that they encounter. These students will not receive teacher guidance, unless a student specifically asks for assistance.

Bridging

These students will be expected to write complete sentences explaining the information and provide extra information that interests them on the websites. They will be welcome to draw an artistic representation of the information that they gain from the websites. These students will not receive teacher guidance, unless a student specifically asks for assistance.

Multiple Intelligences

Intrapersonal/ Introspective: Students can explore may complete project on their own.
Interpersonal/ Social: Students may work on this project in groups or perhaps the class can work on the project as a whole. Students may share some of the information that comes from PowerPoint that corresponds to their home countries.
Logical/ Mathematical: The slides have a uniform construction.
Verbal/ Linguistic: The text on the web pages is written text that students must interpret.
Bodily/ Kinesthetic: Students are able to click on the mouse if they are independently working on the project and students are able to draw pictures.
Visual/ Spatial: There are several pictures within the project that correspond to the information that is being introduced.
Musical/ Rhythmic: Two of the three famous people from Virginia that are mentioned are musical artists or bands. The students can visit the websites and listen to music on the websites of the artists.
Naturalist: This PowerPoint includes information about the natural resources of Virginia and encourages students to explore outdoor activities that can be performed in Virginia.

TESOL National Standards

The TESOL National Standards and example student objectives for students grades 4-8 covered in this project are as follows:

Goal 1, Standard 3Students will be able to use a computer to discover new information. Students will be able to ask simple questions to verify directions.

Goal 2, Standard 2 Students will be able to identify basic information about Virginia.

Goal 2, Standard 3Students will take notes over the information presented in the PowerPoint Web Search, using the handout and PowerPoint copies that are provided.

Guide to Virginia PowerPoint Web search

Advanced Organizer:To start students thinking about the topic at hand you may want to show them a map of Virginia and point out where they live or perhaps show a map of the United States and point out Virginia.

1.After students have begun to think about the topic at hand you should guide your students to log on to their computers. You should then give the students oral directions for the PowerPoint project before you pass anything out. The directions are located below.

2.You should pass out copies of the PowerPoint for students to use at their own discretion and pass out a copy of the student handout. After the students log on to the computer and have their handout you should orally explain to them that they have about 40 minutes (or whatever amount of time you see fit for your students) to peruse through the PowerPoint and find the information that the handout asks them to find.

3.You may choose to guide the students through the process as a class or you may choose to let the students go through the project on their own. If you do allow students to do the project on their own it is important to walk around and check on student progress and to answer any questions that may arise.

Directions for students:

1.Log onto your computer and open the Virginia facts PowerPoint file.

2. Press the F5 key to start viewing the slide show.

3.To go forward in the slideshow click the mouse once. To click on a hyperlink (a word that is highlighted and underlined and the mouse arrow will turn into a hand when placed over a hyperlink) simply place the arrow key over the hyperlink and click the mouse. The hyperlink should take you to a webpage that has information that you can use on your handout. Your computer must be connected to the internet to use the hyperlinks.

4. On the handout Slide 2 is the slide that comes after the title page. Each slide has information you must find by clicking on the hyperlinks.

5.Once you have finished gathering all your information and exploring press the escape key and log off of your computer.