Online Project Based Learning Kelly Qualls EDLT 536 Dr. Kozloski November 30, 2008

The Project Re-Building our community One student at a time

The Learning Model Students will be taught using Project Based Learning. Students will discover, evaluate and collaborate while completing their assignment.

The Learning Environment Students participating in this particular course are ninth grade distance learners. Students will learn about their communities via online and physical exploration. Information will be gathered and reassembled over a period of six months.

Learning Goals Students will gain information that will provide them with a better understanding of where they live, work and play. Students will learn about other areas of the country from their peers. Students will have the foundation to begin building a virtual community in their next grade level.

Learning Technologies Students will utilize the following technological tools to gather information, communicate and collaborate:   Internet  Discussion Boards  Live classrooms  Digital photo book (picaboo.com)  Digital cameras  Camcorders  PowerPoint (via Google Docs)  Audacity

The Pedagogical Process Each student will explore his or her own community. Each Student will discuss and share their findings via an online discussion board. Students will be able to share photos/videos of events, historic landmarks on an online digital photo book. Students will be segregated into groups of three. Each group will collaborate about their discoveries and use their findings to build their on community Each group will present their community online via PowerPoint.

Driving Question #1 What do you know about your Community? Individuals will provide the following information about their own community  Community Exploration: Describe your Community  Number of People  Average Salary  History  % of ethnicity What activities take place in your community and how often  Town hall meetings  Carnivals  Sports events  Holiday Celebrations

Driving Question # 2 Describe what was learned about your community:  Individuals will include both the pro’s and con’s of your community  Each student will list at least 5 things that makes them appreciate the community in which they live.  Each student will list at least 5 changes they would make to their community.

Re-Building the Community Each student will review their team members community profile and answers to questions 1 and 2. Based on the combined information, teams will build their own community. Teams will present their community online during a live classroom session.