Submitted by: Heidi Wilkins
Collaborators: Brooke Davis (librarian), Mike Dunavant (ITRT)
School: Varina High School
Summary
Students created a video, podcast, or webpage about their chosen topic related to water chemistry in the oceans. More specifically, students related their prior knowledge of water chemistry in the ocean to their lives as high school students in Richmond, VA.
TIPC Ratings
Students researched a chosen topic, using skills taught in class, in order to evaluate resources, synthesize information and create a final product. The librarian (Ms. Davis) presented a brief PowerPoint that explained how to access, evaluate, and utilize information regarding research skills, MLA citation, and resources available at the library. Citation guides and the PowerPoint were provided electronically (School Space) for student reference and use. Finally, the students started researching their topic with the help of the classroom teacher and librarian using Google Advanced Search and One Search to access journal articles.
Students worked with assigned partners to communicate with a specialist in the field of study and created an original product communicating knowledge learned. Each student picked their role within their group. One student was the Technical Specialist and the other was the Investigator. Students were graded on their role within the partnership and the project was divided up into 3 parts to ensure students were on track for the final due date. Students collaborated on one Google document throughout their project and they didn’t have to be on campus to do so. Google Documents helped with students who were absent as well because it helped students to organize their information in one place. Students communicated information learned to their classmates when they presented the final product in class.
Students were required to go beyond the content knowledge. Each student was charged with the task of relating their topic to a real-world experience and how their topic affected them personally as a high school student. Students had to deliver their project in a manner that proved their content knowledge and their ability to establish connections between their everyday lives and their content learning. Students used technology as the medium to research and deliver their findings and provide an informational video, website or podcast.
Approaching
Students were given a choice of their final product and had the freedom to choose how to express their research within the parameters of the rubric. They demonstrated their skills in collaboration, communication, and critical thinking as they worked together, both in person and online to make predictions and apply their existing knowledge to create original work.
