Brief Description

Students decided they wanted to create interactive Ink on Trees web site that would feature the E-edition of the school paper, plus games, animated cartoons, their own created web sites, and links to their “fav” funnies.  They asked to create a site on the REACH web site, so that students, parents, and “anybody who is interested” could check it out.

Standards and Frameworks

Technology Standards

• 1T-E1. Communicate about accurate terminology
• 1T-E2. Demonstrates increasing sophisticated operations of technology components
• 1T-E3. When a system is not working properly, demonstrate an understanding of hardware, software and connectivity problem solving processes
• 1T-P2. Make informed choices among technology systems, resources, and services
• 2T-F2. Practice responsible use of software
• 2T-E1 Discuss basic issues related to responsible use of technology and information and describe personal consequences of inappropriate use.
• 2T-E3 Demonstrates knowledge of current changes in technologies and the effect those changes have on the workplace and society.
• 3T-E1. Use formatting capabilities of technology tools for communicating and Illustrating
• 3T-E3 Publish and present information using technology tools
• 4T-E2 Use technology tools for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create curricular relates products for audiences inside and outside the classroom
• 4T-P2. Manage and communicate personal and professional information utilizing technology tools and resources
• 5T-E1. Locate information from electronic resources
• 5T-E2. Evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, comprehensiveness and bias of electronic information sources
• 6T-P2 Routinely and ethically use productivity tools, communication tools and research skills to solve a problem.

• W-P1: Writes in a variety of forms in order to communicate a specific message for a specific audience.

Academic

Students will successfully create an interactive website in which all links operate 90% of the time and in which the writing is at a level 5 of the Traits of Writing.

Technological

Students will successfully use a variety of technology to create an interactive website. Each member of the class successfully participates in all the tasks 90% of the time.

Pre-Requisite Technology Skills

Students must demonstrate proper use of:

•  Computers and software
•  Scanner
•  Printer
•  Internet search engines
•  Digital camera
•  Telephone (interviews)

• Computers, Internet access, and publishing software
•  Scanner
•  Printer
•  Internet search engines
•  Digital camera
•  Telephone (interviews)
•  Audience to interview

• The students will experience many different jobs: recorder, writer, reporter, researcher, interviewer, and timekeeper .
• Students will seek out technical support from the school technology teacher, other students, and experts in the community.
• Students with academic challenges accept the support offered, so that their final product will be correct, appropriate, and within the editorial guidelines of the publication.
• Machines are arranged so that groups of students can access them readily.

The editorial crew established the newspaper, but the student in the class will use the format, policies, and systems prepared by the Ink on Trees crew to publish their work.  They will basically select a theme, create the items, edit their text and features, and plug them into the format.
The class has a deadline for completing their tasks.  They will submit their copy to the principal and the support editors.  Once they have obtained approval, they will prepare their galley copy for Graphics and Printing.

Procedures

Internet Addresses:
avidgamers.com  (model source site)
http://www.amphi.com/teachers/bwyckoff/ (future site)

Organization-

1. Gather a web crew, and designate times and places for work.
2. Students will use their newspaper publishing company and the agreements and rules of publishing (plagiarisms, and how distribute responsibility for different aspects of publishing their paper) established for the paper.
3. The students research and analyze websites to select the name, format, paper, layout style etc. for their paper.
4. The students determine their editorial policy. Example issues to address:
a. What will be norms for their website?
b. What will be appropriate to include?
c. What will interest their market / audience?
d. Who will do the reporting, editing, writing, formatting on the web link?
e. Who will have the final say in what is published?
5. Using the organization and policies established by the students, with appropriate permission from administration, begin gathering the articles, and features to be published.

1. Students will follow their policies and norms in creating their site.
2. Students will monitor and edit their site on a regular basis.
3. Students will obtain permissions where required for publishing items and setting up links on their site.
4. Students will obtain permissions from parents and appropriate administration before publishing any items on the site.
5. Students will monitor their market and respond to feedback on their site.

Teacher Name: Brenda Wyckoff
Site: La Cima Middle School
Date Submitted: March 3, 2004