Project
Summary:
Working
with The Riverhead
Foundation for Marine Research & Preservation, Searingtown
School fourth grade classes will actively study the marine environment
of New York, particularly marine mammal and sea turtle populations.
The project will employ a strategy for scaffolding higher level
learning in the form of a WebQuest.
The WebQuest will address the district
goal of integrating technology into instruction while promoting
intellectual curiosity and creative expression. Through the WebQuest,
students will use a variety of research skills to locate, collect,
and organize geographic and scientific data related to New York
marine mammal life. During the research process, students will be
engaged in higher order critical thinking skills that will require
them to evaluate information from a variety of sources, including
books, videos, the Internet, and hands on experience. Students will
be required to analyze the information they collect, connect ideas,
using technology tools such as Inspiration, and demonstrate their
learning through the development of a multimedia report and through
art making which will nurture and celebrate children's positive
connections to their local environment.
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Standards
Addressed:
Library:
Essential Skills
for Information Literacy: The Information Search Process.
Science:
Organism's patterns of behavior are related to the nature of that
organism's environment.
Social
Studies: Relationships between people and environment
(New York).
Technology:
Using technology productivity tools to collaborate in constructing
technology-enhanced creative works.
Art:
Experiment and create art works, in a variety of mediums, based
on a range of individual and collective experiences.
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Statement
of Purpose:
The
ability to locate information, to evaluate it, and to use it effectively
is becoming an increasingly important skill for the success of
students today. This project focuses on creating an online virtual
environment which supports collaboration, teaching and the inquiry
process. The project, through the use of interactive communications
technologies and Web sites will engage students in the critical
analysis of societal issues and empower them to become active,
critically thinking members of the global community. The "Floating
Classroom" will assist students in developing the ability to be
independent thinkers who can solve real-life problems by making
connections between their studies and their world. This will be
accomplished by using a virtual library, by self-expression in
their art journals, as well as real life "hands on" experience.
Through the study of the marine mammal environment off New York,
students will be actively engaged in meaning making and will use
technology and creative expression as tools to support knowledge
construction. The construction of a Web Site as the final culminating
product will enable students to develop multimedia views of their
research. By encouraging stewardship of the New York marine environment,
students will become aware of the idea that success
can be measured by one's personal development and contribution
to society. Finally, by creating a Web Site and becoming
naturalist artists, students will generate new knowledge for future
Searingtown learners.
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Project
Description:
Essential
Information Literacy Skills:
The project will immerse students in learning through the concept
of a unique "Floating Classroom." Fourth grade classes will
work with the library media specialist, Karen Kliegman, using
the "Information Search Process," which is an inquiry-based,
constructivist learning model. Students will construct knowledge
by:
Interacting
with experts from the Riverhead Foundation through their Outreach
Program as well as through a virtual tour of the Riverhead
Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation at Atlantis
Marine World.
Developing
environmental awareness through the adoption of a seal, sea
turtle, or whale.
Developing
ownership of their learning through the construction of a
web page, a naturalist/artist journal, and the creation of
an art mural.
The Floating Classroom grant will bring the process alive, giving
students the opportunity to work with real experts and observe
first hand the subject of their research. They will be encouraged
to record their experiences in many ways:
Writing:
Reporting and reflecting on their learning experiences.
Imaging:
Using the digital camera to document their experiences.
Self
Expression: Combining science with the arts to teach
environmental education.
Connecting:
Creating PowerPoint presentations which will be incorporated
into a web page to be added to the district website
The Outreach program will give students the opportunity to explore
marine mammal and sea turtle artifacts while learning about
the dangers of pollution and human interactions. Further, they
will learn what the New York State Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle
Stranding Program is doing to help these threatened species.
Self
Expressing:
Under the guidance of art teacher, Beth Williams, and in conjunction
with the research projects, students will keep an art journal.
Each student will become an artist/naturalist by keeping an
Art Journal of NY Marine Life.
The
Journal of NY Marine Life will be a place where students record
and celebrate (in drawing) the gifts of joy, beauty and curiosity
that the ocean offers.
The
journal will help students create positive and personal affiliations
with nature while developing their skills in the arts of self-expression.
Selected student artwork will be scanned into the web page.
As
part of the library/art collaboration, students will meet and
research artist/naturalists guests online.
Through
the Outreach Program, they will have the opportunity to interview
live naturalists.
Culminating Projects:
Two classes will create an art mural reflecting their learning.
Besides being an assessment of their learning, the art mural
will be a permanent record of their knowledge for all of the
Searingtown community.
Another
class will create a three dimensional map of Long Island,
depicting cetecean and pinniped strandings.
Classes
will create posters promoting appreciation of nature and public
awareness of the plight of marine animals.
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Technology/Information
Literacy Integration*
(*Table
based an assessment table developed by Pam
Berger.)
|
OUTCOME
|
ENABLING
TOOL
|
TECHNOLOGY
APPLICATION
|
TECHNOLOGY
TOOL
|
|
Predicting
|
Graphic
Organizer
|
Brainstorming
|
Inspiration
|
|
Locating
Information
|
Information
Access Tool
|
Online
Catalog, Internet, Videos
|
Circulation
Plus, WebQuest
|
|
Organizing,
Synthesizing
|
Organization
Tool
|
Web
Page, Visual Tools
|
FrontPage,
PowerPoint, Inspiration
|
|
Expression
|
Writing
Tool, Visual Tool
|
Word
Processing, Digital Photography
|
Microsoft
Word, Digital Camera, Scanner
|
|
Sharing,
Reflecting
|
Authoring
Tool
|
Multimedia
Authoring
|
Frontpage,
Inspiration, PowerPoint, Microsoft Word
|
|
...A
collaboration between Searingtown School, The Riverhead Foundation
for Marine Research and Preservation and Long Island University, T.E.A.M.
"Growing
Naturalists" Mini-Grant: