Factors

Description

Learning Environment:
Resource (+) or Constraint (-)

Initial Ideas for Maximizing Positive Factors or Minimizing Negative Factors

Age/Academic Range

14 - 15 years old

9th Grade students

+

-

Utilize the experiences of some students in the class

Peer mentoring to address needs, especially in the area of reading levels and computer expertise.

Sex Distribution

About 50/50

+

Balance within class groups tends to result in less behavior problems. More opportunities to adjust seating in lab to encourage good behavior.

Racial, Ethnic Diversity

95 % Hispanic

5% White/Anglo

+

Draw from cultural experiences of individual students to provide differing perspectives, attitudes

Educational Level

9th Grade

+

It is a distinct advantage to have a single grade on a campus as it allows staff to have a unified focus.

Disability or Impairment

Learning Disabled (LD);

+

Modifications of academic and/or behavioral expectations can set the stage for success for students with disabilities.

Developmentally Appropriate

All students are developmentally appropriate.

+

The students have shown a level of maturity that will be effective in the completion of this lesson.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Basic technology skills

Presentation software program (PowerPoint)

+

Students have been demonstrating these skills in previous activities and in BCIS I class.

Related Experience

Understanding of how to correctly cite on-line resources.

+

Have students relate the activity to other online research projects that they have completed in their English class.

Perception of Role as Student

Students see themselves as information gatherers to create understanding.

+

Students must understand that they will collect information about different types of substance abuse and the consequences associated with them. From this collection of data, they must create their own understanding.

Motivation for Learning

Curiosity drug and alcohol abuse, as well as other types of substance abuse.

+

Relate to students attending school who are involved with drug and alcohol abuse.

Attitude Toward Subject

Students feel that this is an important subject and they are very curious about it.

+

Build on their interest of the subject and promote education that will hopefully help them avoid the pitfalls of substance abuse.

Expectations from Course

To gain knowledge substance abuse and its' consequences.

+

Substance abuse is something that affects many of our students and their families. Through this educational process it is our desire to help students avoid this serious problem.

Competitiveness

Yes. The different groups will want to add the most "glitz" and "jazz" their presentations.

+

This competitive attitude will help to produce a quality product.

Environment factors that may impact learner-centered instruction.

Analyzing the environment is a means to identify the issues that will impact the (a) process of the design and production, (b) implementation, and (c) outcomes of the learning experience

Factors

Description

Advantage or Constraint

Initial Ideas for Maximizing Positive Factors or Minimizing Negative Factors

Design and Production Factors:

Budget Available

NA

Requires no additional funding

Materials Required

Computer Lab computers with access to Internet

Software: Internet Explorer, PowePoint

+

Students will meet in the computer lab rather than in our standard classroom during the completion of this project.

Production Equipment Available

Computers with Internet access

+

Students will enjoy meeting in computer lab and should look forward to coming to class.

Time for Design and Production

This project will take three weeks to complete. Students will spend one week researching; one week in analyzing their research data and preparing their presentations; one week for all groups to present their findings.

-

Monitor all groups to assure that students are on task and following effective research techniques.

Department Technology Requirements

District goal to integrate technology into curriculum

+

Ensures that students get multiple experiences with technology in each subject throughout the year.

Implementation Factors:

Class Size

Ranges from 15 to 20 students per class. (3 classes of students)

+

The students

Class Period Length

1 - 50 minute class period each day.

+

Determine collaborative groups prior to first class meeting in computer lab to save time for research.

Location

High School computer lab.

+

Students will be directed to meet in the computer lab during this project rather than reporting to our regular classroom first.

Seating Arrangement

Seated with their collaborative group

+

Teacher can seat students within their group.

Lighting

NA

NA

Temperature

NA

NA

Noise

May disturb others

-

Students are encouraged to interact but must make sure that voices stay at low level in lab to prevent disturbing nearby classes.

Equipment

20 computers in lab

+

-

Each student should have their own computer.

Technology Support

Computer lab aide will be available, if needed

+

Technology staff will check lab prior to student activity to make sure that all computers are functioning and software is installed.

Outcome Factors:

State Requirements

Health 1 TEKS (Gr 9-10: 5A, 7) and 9-12 TechApps TEKS

+

Provides framework for instruction.

Employer Needs

-

Co-worker Needs

Ideas for successful projects are shared with other subject area teachers.

+

Environment for individual sharing of success is a powerful tool to move the campus toward campus-wide success.

Student Needs

Prevention of substance abuse.

+

Positive impact on self esteem and life-long learning.

Other Factors:

Parents expect their children to receive an appropriate and relevant education.

+

Students and parents expect the inclusion of technology in the curriculum.

Content factors that may impact learner-centered instruction.

Analyzing the content is a means to identify in general terms the topics to be addressed in your course and to analyze these topics in terms of the prerequisite sub-topics, and degree of learning difficulty

Main Topics

Sub-Topics (What Is Involved In Learning Each Main Topic?)

Readiness To Learn (Prerequisites Mastered)

Degree of Learning Difficulty (Real / Imagined)

Possible Instructional Strategies to Reduce or Manage Learning Difficulty

1. Research different types of substance abuse.

Search electronic sources.

Identification of key words; basic use of web browser

Real -have difficulty narrowing searches

Imagined -many times expect the information to be displayed directly without having to read for meaning

Demonstrate strategies to search using key words and strategies to try when having limited success.

2. Organize and prepare results of the findings.

Students will organize data of different categories of substance abuse into a database format and then complete a presentation for the class on their findings.

Basic understanding of database tables and using PowerPoint to create presentation

Real -Will have some difficulty in organizing their data.

Review concept of database tables and demonstrate how to link tables to perform queries on the data.

3. Each collaborative group will present their presentation to the remainder of the class.

Previous experience giving oral presentations.

Real - Providing assurance that all groups will have undivided attention of the audience of students.

Teacher will provide redirection, as needed of students listening to the presentations.