8th+Grade+Science+Exit+Project+Flow+of+the+Day

=Enriching Science Exit Projects with Technology - Grade 8 Sample Unit=

**Course Description:**
Science teachers will look closely at best practices utilized when working with students to create science exit projects and explore ways that 21st Century skills can be incorporated to engage students and enrich instruction. Participants discover how to enhance the management, research and presentation of science exit projects by creating a library of online resources, creating templates using Google Docs; analyzing data using Google Spreadsheets; and presenting with Google Presentation.


 * ===**Time/Topic**=== || ===**Activities and Resources**=== ||
 * **9 AM - 9:45 AM**


 * How can Technology be Used to Enhance the Science Exit Project?**

Content Teaching Points
 * What is a Science Exit Project?
 * How can technology be used to enhance the Science Exit Project? || Participants will learn about the components of a Science Exit Project and how to review them using Science Exit Project Rubrics.


 * Work Time:**
 * Review the components of a Science Exit Project
 * Assess samples of student exit projects using a rubric to create a strong project.
 * What are the components of a Science Exit Project?
 * What makes a strong exit project?
 * What is a Science Exit Project?
 * How can the Science 4Rs be applied to the Science Exit Project?
 * How can technology be used to enhance a Science Exit Project?


 * Share:**
 * What ideas did you have for integrating technology into the Scientific Process?

||
 * Digital Resource Files/Links:**
 * [|Urban Advantage – Sample Exit Projects]
 * [|8_1 Student Exit Project Rubric.pdf]
 * [|8_1 A Study of Gerbil Behavior.ppt]
 * [|8_1 Do All Plants Grow Alike.ppt]
 * [|8_1 Kidney Bean Growth.ppt]
 * **9:45 AM - 10:30 AM**


 * Developing a Topic and Obtaining Background Information for a Science Exit Project**

Content Teaching Points
 * 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?

Technology Teaching Points
 * How do we teach students to perform informed Internet searches utilizing Altavista.com || Participants will learn how to evaluate websites and conduct Internet searches that yield the best results in support of Science Exit Projects.


 * Work Time:**


 * Determine a topic of interest, either one of your own or something your students might want to investigate.
 * Brainstorm key words that will help narrow the topic.
 * Search for information on Altavista http://www.altavista.com using the key words.
 * Use [|searching strategies website] to refine search results
 * Evaluate the Web sites (at least three for each topic.)


 * Share:**
 * What did you discover?
 * What strategies worked? Which did not?


 * Digital Resource Files/Links:**
 * http://www.altavista.com
 * http://www.schoollink.org/workshops/search_tools.htm
 * The Gerbil Page - [|http://my.athenet.net/~hoffmann/biog4.html] ||
 * ===**10:30 AM - 10:45 AM**=== || ===**Break**=== ||
 * **10:45 AM - 11:30 AM**


 * Using PortaPortal to Create an Online Library of Science Resources that Support Student Exit Projects**

Content Teaching Points
 * How do I begin to create an online library of resources?

Technology Teaching Points
 * How can you support students that have trouble searching independently?
 * How can you provide students with a starting place for their research?
 * What is PortaPortal?
 * How is PortaPortal used to collect and organize online resources? || Participants will learn how to use PortaPortal to create an online library of science resources that support student exit projects.


 * Work Time:**


 * View the Sample Page PortaPortal page: http://guest.portaportal.com/jleveine
 * Register for PortaPortal: http://www.portaportal.com
 * Use the PortaPortal Help Page - http://www.portaportal.com/help.php to:
 * Brainstorm categories for a Science Exit Project Page.
 * Learn how to add a category.
 * Learn how to add a link.
 * Use the Web sites you evaluated in the last session to create your own PortaPortal page to support student Exit Project work


 * Share:**
 * Share your PortaPortal pages

> > ||
 * Digital Resource Files/Links:**
 * PortaPortal Home Page - http://www.portaportal.com
 * PortaPortal QuickStart Page - http://www.portaportal.com/qStart.php
 * PortaPortal Help Page - http://www.portaportal.com/help.php
 * [|PortaPortal_websites.doc]
 * **11:30 AM - 12 PM**


 * Using** **Google Documents to Collaborate and Enhance the Science Exit Project**

Content Teaching Points
 * Avoiding Plagiarism
 * Paraphrasing research content

Technology Teaching Points
 * What is Google Docs?
 * Writing a report in Documents || Participants will learn how to utilize Google Docs to help ** students organize their research to write a report. **


 * Work Time:**


 * Briefly discuss the educational uses of Google Docs and how students can collaborate to complete the project anywhere or anytime.
 * Participants will setup GMail accounts
 * Create a Science Project Outline using the “13 Key Components of a Science Exit Project Report” in Documents


 * Share:**
 * Participants will share out their ideas for using Documents in an exit project.


 * Digital Resource Files/Links:**
 * Google Docs Basics: http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dcdn7mjg_72nh25vq
 * Google Doc Support: http://docs.google.com/support/
 * Google Docs Help: http://docs.google.com/support/bin/topic.py?topic=15114 ||
 * ===**12 PM - 1 PM**=== || ===**Lunch Break**=== ||
 * **1 PM - 2 PM**


 * Using Google Spreadsheets to Analyze Data for the Science Exit Project**

Content Teaching Points
 * How can we manipulate data sets in Google Spreadsheets and draw conclusions from them?

Technology Teaching Points
 * How do I use Google Spreadsheets to create tables and graphs? || Participants will learn how to utilize Google Spreadsheets to help students manipulate data and draw conclusions from them.


 * Work Time:**


 * Create a data table in Google Spreadsheets from the Google Spreadsheet Table document
 * Use Google Spreadsheets to graph the data from the table


 * Share:**
 * Look at the graph and analyze the data as a group


 * Digital Resource Files/Links:**
 * [|GoogleSpreadsheetTable.doc]
 * Google Doc Support: http://docs.google.com/support/
 * Google Spreadsheets Help: http://docs.google.com/support/bin/topic.py?topic=15115 ||
 * **2 PM - 2:45 PM**


 * Preparing the Project Display with Google Doc Presentation**

How can Google Docs’ Presentation be used effectively to organize and present data for Science Exit Project? || Participants will learn how to utilize Google Presentation to help students showcase and present their Science Exit Projects.
 * Technology Teaching Points:**

Participants
 * Work time:**
 * will learn how to use Presentation to organize and present a Science exit project
 * will create a template to guide their students in the design of a Science exit project presentation
 * will utilize http://citationmachine.net to create citations


 * Share:**
 * Participants will share their Presentation and explain how Google Docs Presentation can effectively help students to organize and present their project.


 * Digital Resource Files/Links:**
 * Google Doc Support: http://docs.google.com/support/
 * Google Presentation Help: http://docs.google.com/support/bin/topic.py?topic=15116
 * Citations: http://citationmachine.net/ ||
 * **2:45 PM - 3 PM**

[|Participant Survey] || Wrap-Up and [|Participant Survey]. Please complete this survey as your feedback is important to us. ||