Who? Grade 10 / A’ Lykeion Section Grade 10 / A’ Lykeion Section Research & Information Skills Research & Information Skills English Language & Literature English Language & Literature Class met once a week Class met once a week Project used 4 periods Project used 4 periods

Why e-pyxis? Independent, collaborative research project on the background of the novel Independent, collaborative research project on the background of the novel Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men No class time available to devote except for our R & I period No class time available to devote except for our R & I period Structure and guidance were essential Structure and guidance were essential Needed to break away from the limitations of class time and face- to-face contact Needed to break away from the limitations of class time and face- to-face contact

How e-pyxis? The platform was used as The platform was used as a working environment for distance and asynchronous communication

How exactly did it work? The platform was a private, virtual work area where students and teacher worked on the content and form of the product: a power point presentation displaying information the students had researched on their topic. The platform was a private, virtual work area where students and teacher worked on the content and form of the product: a power point presentation displaying information the students had researched on their topic. Once the product was ready, it was sent to a different site where it was showcased. Once the product was ready, it was sent to a different site where it was showcased. At the site, the projects were assembled to offer a Q-A page with background information on the novel. At the site, the projects were assembled to offer a Q-A page with background information on the novel.

The Process What preceded the project? What preceded the project? What followed? What followed?

What preceded the project? Reading the novel Reading the novel Completing a guided project on using strategies, resources available in the Library and creating a bibliography Completing a guided project on using strategies, resources available in the Library and creating a bibliography Completing the research on their assigned topic for this project Completing the research on their assigned topic for this project

Features test test announcements announcements documents documents dropbox dropbox forum forum assignments assignments Great kick-off Great kick-off Registration & Attention-getter Registration & Attention-getter Could be very useful Could be very useful Important information goes here—no handouts Important information goes here—no handouts Private- all homework is sent here. Private- all homework is sent here. It is safe, saved and dated. Excellent for one-on-one feedback. Record of process and comments Excellent for one-on-one feedback. Record of process and comments Public- ready work is available to all students. Saved and dated. No paper work Public- ready work is available to all students. Saved and dated. No paper work

What followed? a formal discussion directed by the students a formal discussion directed by the students essay writing on the themes of the story essay writing on the themes of the story a Question & Answer page on the setting of the novel Of Mice and Men produced by the students a Question & Answer page on the setting of the novel Of Mice and Men produced by the students an album of the presentation an album of the presentation

watchpoints Careful planning at the beginning—one needs to think about deadlines, finished products, student s, skills necessary through the process Careful planning at the beginning—one needs to think about deadlines, finished products, student s, skills necessary through the process Positive and clear responses on the forum Positive and clear responses on the forum

payoff Makes independent work possible Makes independent work possible Communication with students is a lot faster and effective Communication with students is a lot faster and effective You can offer each student the time and attention they need You can offer each student the time and attention they need Makes follow-up easier—saved and dated Makes follow-up easier—saved and dated You can “talk” to your student whenever you have time—late at night You can “talk” to your student whenever you have time—late at night The draft is available wherever there is internet connection The draft is available wherever there is internet connection Reduces paper work Reduces paper work

suggestions Announcement window on the home page Announcement window on the home page Be able to work on a file in the dropbox and return the revision on the spot without having to save it as a document Be able to work on a file in the dropbox and return the revision on the spot without having to save it as a document In the forum, replies should be threaded immediately after the message it responds to. In the forum, replies should be threaded immediately after the message it responds to.