Components

** Projects **: As travel reporters, students will be required to research a foreign city. Using the information they discover, they will create a wikipage that details basic facts about the city’s geography, history, weather, tourist sites, etc. They will create a video podcast about their city. They will also blog about their trip itinerary and budget. ** Technology **: Students will need to use laptops daily for the Internet research, Microsoft Word, the blog website, and Google Docs. They will also need Flipcams to create the video podcasts. In addition, some students may want to use a scanner to upload photos or documents. Others may want to use digital cameras to take pictures of themselves and then PhotoShop themselves into pictures from the cities. Some may email people who are living in those locations. Because the project is so student-centered, they will be responsible for figuring out how to find their info. That will determine the types of technology they need. As the middle school technology coach, I will be able to help them access the resources as needed. ** Dynamic, Flexible Grouping **: Students will be able to choose one partner, so that they are comfortable working with someone in their group, and so that they feel as if they had a part in that aspect of the project. I will then join groups of partners to make small groups of four. In that way, I can assure that we have all types of learners in each group. ** Authentic Teaching and Learning Experiences **: I will be working as a guide in this learning process, which helps with authenticity. Students will be required to work collaboratively to meet deadlines, and they will be discovering information on their own. Because they are taking on a “professional” role as a travel reporter, I think the project itself is very real-world.
 * Inquiry **: Students will be using higher-order thinking skills during this project. They will have to answer questions of all types relating to the cities they are researching. Knowledge-based questions include recalling specific facts about their cities, such as those found on the wikipage they create. Comprehension questions will involve students illustrating their hypothetical trips through blogging…such as, “what will I do today in my city?” Application questions will relate to determining a budget for their trip. Analysis inquiry involves students explaining how and why they made certain decisions about what to visit/see in their cities. And, finally, synthesis results from the students putting all their information together to create the wiki, podcast, and blog, which could help persuade others to visit the city in the future.