Enrich+Science+Exit+Projects+with+Technology+-+Grade+8+Sample+Unit

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=** Enrich Science Exit Projects with Technology**= //Grade 8 Sample Unit//



= Class Components=

**Session 8.1: How Can Technology Be Used to Enhance the Science Exit Project?**
Authors: Petal McPherson and Jacqueline Rossy

• What is the Science Exit Project? • What is Scientific Inquiry? • What is the Scientific Method? • How can technology be used to enhance the Science Exit Project? • What is a Science Exit Project, and why is it important to student learning? • What are the components of a Science Exit Project? • How can we help students create a strong Exit Project. • Review of the 4Rs. • What are the steps of the inquiry process? • How can technology be incorporated into the Science Exit Project? • How do we assess an Exit Project with a rubric? • Search for reliable sources using key words from your question. • Evaluate content of selected Web sites for: Authority, Accuracy, Objectivity, Current Information.
 * Content Teaching Points**
 * Technology Teaching Points**




 * Resources:**

[|8_1_Plant_growth_display.jpg]

**Session 8.2: Developing a Topic and Obtaining Background Information for a Science Exit Project**
Author: Christine Kola

• How can teachers guide students to identify topics of interest that may be used for Exit Projects? • How can teachers guide students to use Internet search engines effectively to find information for their background research? • How can teachers help students determine if the information they find is suitable for their needs? • How can you get your students excited about an Exit Project idea? Observations, Science Curriculum. > How to help students generate a topic that can be a good researchable question? • How to model brainstorming activities? • Search for reliable sources using key words from your question. • Evaluate content of selected Web sites for: Authority, Accuracy, Objectivity, Current Information.
 * Content Teaching Points**
 * Technology Teaching Points**




 * Resources:**



**Session 8.3: Using PageKeeper to Create Your Science Library of Online Resources that Support Student Exit Projects**
• How can you support students that have trouble searching independently? • How can you provide students with a starting place for their research? • What is PageKeeper? • How is PageKeeper used to collect and organize online resources? • Use Internet search engines to find Web sites that will help students through the Exit Project process. • Use PageKeeper to create a page of online resources that support student exit projects.
 * Content Teaching Points**
 * Technology Teaching Points**




 * Resources:**



**Session 8.4: Benefits of Blogging in the Classroom**
• What is a blog? • How can I use a blog as a tool to share information with my students? • How will my students use the blog in their 8th Grade Exit Projects? • Review existing science blogs. Use www.edublogs.com to set-up a class blog. • Post a question on your blog. • Add a comment to someone else's blog.
 * Content Teaching Points**
 * Technology Teaching Points**




 * Resources:**



**Session 8.5: How to Create a Classroom Blog**
During this session, participants will learn how to use a blog as a tool to share information with my students? During this session, participants will learn how to create a blog.
 * Content Teaching Points**
 * Technology Teaching Points**




 * Resources:**

[|Edublogs]

**Session 8.6: Using Word Templates to Help Students Organize Their Research Findings and Write a Report**
• What are the key problems that your students face in report writing? • Students require some structure to help them write the Science Exit Project report. • The template can be used to incorporate research findings in note form and then later changed to paragraph form. • How can we help students avoid plagiarism? • Practice paraphrasing research information. • Use Microsoft Word to create a report template. • Insert tables, format text. • Use Citation Machine for site sources for the Exit Project bibliography.
 * Content Teaching Points**
 * Technology Teaching Points**




 * Resources:**

[|8_6_Format_for_Bibliography.jpg]

**Session 8.7: Using Excel To Track, Collect, and Analyze Data for an Experiment**
• How can students use Microsoft Excel to collect data sets, manipulate the data sets, and draw conclusions from them? • Conduct multiple trials of an experiment. • Record data in an Excel table. • How can we create a data table in Excel? • How can we create a chart in Excel? • Use Excel to record and organize data. • Use Excel data tables and charts to analyze data and draw conclusions. • Use a chart to monitor dependent variables and independent variables.
 * Content Teaching Points**
 * Technology Teaching Points**




 * Resources:**



**Session 8.8: Preparing the Project Display with PowerPoint**
• Why use PowerPoint? • How can PowerPoint be used effectively to organize and present data for a Science Exit Project? • Simple: Print and cut on the board. It helps kids organize their work and keep it neat. • Advanced: PPT is the display and it runs with voice-over, images of the process, and the results. • Could include video shots of the process. • How do I structure my presentation? • Create a PowerPoint presentation. • Insert images and charts. • Insert a video. • Insert hyperlinks.
 * Content Teaching Points**
 * Technology Teaching Points**




 * Resources:**

[|8_8 student rubric 2.tif]