Virtual Lesson Course: Inventions

Summary of Lesson Plans:

Whether we facilitate it, or not, children use technology every day to facilitate their critical thinking, problem solving, communication and collaborative skills. However, many of our students have not thought about how many of these technological inventions became possible, and how they have contributed to the development of their communities. These lessons are proposed to encourage students to investigate some of the significant inventions, such as – a sawmill circular saw, a telephone, and motorcar. Students will also learn brief biographical information about the people who invented these technologies. Teacher will provide PowerPoint and Wiki Tutorials, as well as, example PowerPoint slides with the names of the inventors and ask students to match the inventor with the invention (i.e. Carl Benz, Alexander Graham Bell, and Tabitha Babbitt). Students will be required to select an invention to research, and then complete an online invention research organizer with the information. This information will be used to create a PowerPoint slide presentation to share with other classmates. The lessons will be aligned to both the Maryland Technology Education curriculum and relevant Framework for 21st Century Learning skills. To begin this lesson, students will be divided into research groups containing two students, and each student will be selecting a different inventor/invention. The students will do research and communicate with students from their group in the conference area. Information from research will be shared by using PowerPoint slides with a variety of media such as videos and audio in the presentation techniques. Tutorials will also be provided for inserting videos and audio into PowerPoint.

Starting Activity:

·       Teacher will divide students in small groups (2 students in each group)

·       Each group will select an invention from a list provided to begin the research on the internet.

Formative Assessment:

·        Self-Assessments

·        PowerPoint Rubric

·        KWLs charts

Summative Assessment:

·        Project Evaluation

·        Student surveys (electronic)

·        eJournals

·        Self-Assessments

·        Diagnostic Learning Logs

·        Feedback (peer & teacher)

·        Rubrics

Description of two major assignments:

·       Students will conduct an internet research of major technology invention or innovation that contributed to the social, political, economic and/or physical development of their community/country.

·        Students will create a PowerPoint slide presentation of the findings.

Differentiate Instruction:

·       Adjusting activities and task will be done to match a student’s readiness, prior knowledge and interest, or learning profile to ensure that learning objectives are met.

·       Additional activities such as journal writing, portfolios, as well as, classroom projects can also be adapted to facilitate students who complete tasks at different rates.

·       Flexible grouping of students can be effective in achieving optimal performance from students.

·       Scaffolding will be provided by teacher for weaker students to help increases metacognition.