Artifact # 4
Unit Plan based on Computer Software used to help Third grade students broaden their knowledge on Oceans as well as further skill development in working with computer software and creative expression activities. Through this unit, students participate in a launch activity to focus their attention on what they know about ocean life. They are then allowed to explore the Microsoft Oceans Software. Subsequently, they are required to manipulate the software to find out more about specific aspects of ocean life.
Context
This unit plan was created using Microsoft Word and Microsoft Oceans
Software. I created these lesson plans with a partner as a part of
an FDN-3100 class (classroom use of microcomputers) at Appalachian State
University. This unit plan utilizes computer software to help students
develop a stronger knowledge base on Ocean life. Students manipulate computer
software entitled Microsoft Oceans as a main part of this unit. They must
utilize their skills in website navigation and word processing to be successful
with this unit. This lesson also allows teachers to target the learning
styles of students who learn more effectively through hands-on activities.
Impact
The activities in this lesson plan unit can be utilized in a variety
of ways. Teachers can use either the whole unit plan or portions of the
plan to focus on various elements of student learning. This unit
provides teachers with an effective way to introduce an interesting topic
in a non-traditional way, via computer software. This unit also gives students
the opportunity to further develop their skills with word processing and
computer navigation. They are also expected to implement the language arts
skills of writing and creative thinking as they create narratives and art
products to share with classmates what they have learned about Ocean life.
This unit corresponds with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study
as follows: Language
Arts Competencies(3.6, 4.3, 4.4) and
Computer
Skills Competencies (2.3, 3.2 ).
Alignment
This unit plan helps students work on skills that they are required
to meet by the NC Computer Skills Curriculum (Tech.
Competency 10.4). The specific skills met by this lesson
are stated above. This practice in working with these computer skills will
help students become better prepared for the NC Computer Skills Assessment
that they will be expected to master in the 8th grade. As a part
of assessing student understanding during this Ocean unit, the teacher
would have students word process the answers to a questionnaire, focusing
on important ideas and concepts found in the Oceans software. Students
learning should be further assessed by checking for accuracy in their worksheet
answers, to evaluate student understanding of navigating the software program.
(Tech. Competency 10.5).
As a part of this unit plan, students are expected to manipulate Microsoft
Oceans Software and answer several sets of questions based on the knowledge
they gain from the software program. This unit integrates students' Language
Arts skills (writing) with Computer skills (navigation and word processing)
and Science (Ocean life). (Tech.
Competency 12.7). Teachers can use this lesson plan unit
to present information to students in a non-traditional way; making learning
about oceans and computers more interesting. As students receive
information about the topic through telecommunications and are allowed
to work collaboratively to investigate ocean life, they are much more apt
to really learn the information. When utilizing this Unit Plan, a
teacher is using what he/she knows about communicating information to students
through media to foster active investigation and interaction within a classroom
(INTASC #6).