Artifact 8

Context: I created a Life Cycle of the Butterfly lesson plan in a Literacy, Technology, and Instruction course at Appalachian State University, which was instructed by Linda Pacifici.

Impact: The Life Cycle of the Butterfly lesson plan can be used in my classroom to assist students in studying animal life cycles. The lesson plan promotes the use of technology as a tool for learning about butterflies. As students learn about the different stages of butterfly metamorphosis, they can access bookmarked internet sites to search for related information, communicate via email with other students on ideas and/or concepts associated with butterflies, and take digital images of butterflies.

Alignment: The Life Cycle of the Butterfly lesson plan meets goal VIE of the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers. Since the lesson plan incorporates uses of the internet, email, and digital imaging, it ensures that individual students have equal access to technology resources (VIE). For example, students use lab computers to access internet resources on butterflies, communicate via email with Colorado students about their grant funded butterfly study, and take turns using a digital camera to capture the metamorphosis of butterflies.