Cues,+Questions+&+Advance+Organizers

**__Cues, Questions & Advance Organizers__ ** 
 * Technology 1: Video Conferencing (also known as Webchat) using Skype at** [|**www.skype.com**]

 Rationale:

Video conferencing (also known as Webchat) is a great way to integrate guest speakers on special topics within the classroom. When studying a specific topic, such as astronomy and how the earth rotates around the sun (one of the science standards for 5th grade) having an expert, such as an astronomer in the field present virtually to answer questions by students is a great way to enhance the student's knowledge and ability to ask good questions. Many times it is costly and difficult to schedule a visit from a guest speaker, however, with the technology available through on-line video conferencing using Skype, students and the speaker can interact in real-time and speak to one another. By using a webcam and a computer with Internet access, students can interact with professionals in the careers and subject areas discussed in class and also ask questions directly and gain a deeper understanding for the topics. Resources needed: 
 * A computer with Internet access (all parties involved in video conferencing will need this and the following items)
 * Skype is a free, downloadable service when used on the Internet. As long as all parties involved are using the Internet, Skype is free.
 * Webcam: Skype recommends a Logitech webcam that can be purchased through the site. Prices for these range from $28 to 97$ depending on image quality.


 * Technology 2: Webquest Activities**

The following link is an example of great educational design patterns to create WebQuests on a variety of topics: []

This link will give basic information about WebQuests and their uses in the classroom from the educator's workshop website : [|13 Ed Online]  Rationale: A WebQuest is a great way to integrate technology in a specific content area. Teachers create Webquests because it helps reach a variety of learning styles and can be done in groups as well if desired. A WebQuest is a powerful learning tool for students. WebQuests can be compared to an online scavenger hunt, in which students travel to designated websites and complete tasks based on the information found on the sites. They can be time consuming to create, however, the project itself allows for an inquiry-based project in which the students construct their own knowledge as they follow and complete the tasks in the WebQuest. They can learn how to answer their own questions independently and take cues in order to successfully complete the tasks. A WebQuest consists of the following components (also please see flow chart above for visual representation):

 All of these components flow together and help create meaningful learning experiences that offer students the chance to learn researching skills as they also learn navigational and technological skills. If working collaboratively, students can also be divided in groups that allow for differentiation, thus enhancing the activity’s goals and objectives.
 * 1) Introduction
 * 2) Task(s)
 * 3) <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Process (bookmarked websites or print resources)
 * 4) <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Resources (i.e. handouts, on-line worksheet)
 * 5) <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Evaluation (i.e. rubric)
 * 6) <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Conclusion

Resources Needed: <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Georgia, serif;">
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Computers with Internet Access for student(s) use
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Georgia, serif;">A teacher-designed WebQuest on content area (see links above for more information and free templates to help create and design)
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Technology 3: Brainstorming Online with Bubbl.us at [|www.bubbl.us] **<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Georgia, serif;">

<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Rationale: Bubbl.us is a website with the purpose of creating an individual or collaborative brainstorming exercise that can be manipulate and updated by mutliple users. It also contains a variety of advance organizers to help in the brainstorming process. One person or multiple users can create a free account, and design a graphic way to organize information-from simple to very advanced. This would be a helpful and easy-to-use way to create an advanced organizer to aid students that need to complete a project and "map out" their planning and preparations to help them visualize the process and organize their information in an easy to understand format. Bubbl.us can be used in writing assignments as well as content area projects in which many steps are involved. The "mind maps" that can be created can be formatted by shapes, colors, and more in order to also show visual represenations and personal creativity. It could also be used as a form of assessment in the classroom where the students must demonstrate the planning process for an assignment. The information on this site can be shared with others by sending an invitation, and work can also be printed or e-mailed. It is also helpful because the organizers can be saved as a .gif or .jpg image, thus enabling easy transfering to other documents or websites.

Resources Needed:
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Computer with Internet access
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: Georgia, serif;">The website [|www.bubbl.us]

<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Georgia, serif;">*For a list of more on-line advanced organizers, visit: []

<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Georgia, serif;">**Education Challenge:** Many students face the challenge of English Language Learners and the gap that often is created in verbal communication. Students who are not fluent in English may feel unconfident or shy to ask aloud verbal questions or lack the ability to take cues in the classroom activities, even routine ones. Technology is a great way to help English Language Learners feel more comfortable to make mistakes and participate in classroom activities. By using the website mentioned above, [|www.bubbl.us], <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Georgia, serif;">English Language Learners can not only think aloud--but also __type__ their thoughts and brainstorm in a more visual and planned-out format, thus allowing for more confidence and less worry that they are not speaking correctly and thus failing to get their thoughts (and points) across. This is also a great collaborative way to help students work together and plan out projects-and integrates technology use and skills.

= Introduction < = = = = Generating & Testing Hypothesis >  = = Homework & Practice >  = = Identifying Similarities & Differences >  = = Nonlinguistic Representation >  = = Providing Feedback >  = = Reinforcing Effort >  = = Simulations & Games >  = = Summarizing & Notetaking >  = = Summary >  = = Reflections >  =