Ashley O's 1st lesson plan

Target Audience
The target audience for this lesson is a 6th grade science class. All types of learners should find this lesson fun and exciting because of the technology used.

Big Idea of the Lesson
The big idea of the lesson is for students to learn more about animals that live in the ocean, specificially whales. The students will use available resources such as the internet, books, magazines, etc. to find out information about whales. Once they become "experts" on the topic of whales, I would then set up "distance learning" experience where the students would have the opportunity to talk to a real marine biologist. The professional could then answer any questions the students might have about whales or marine life in general. They could also tell the marine biologist any interesting facts that they discovered while doing their research.

Overall Goal of the Lesson
This lesson should provide students with the opportunity to use different resources to gather information. It will help students learn how to look up information and record their own data. The "distance learning" experience will give students the opportunity talk to a professional and see the work involved in his or her profession. The "distance learning" experience will also help the students learn how to pose questions properly so as to get the information they intended.

Indiana Content Standards
6.1.5 Identify places where scientists work, including offices, classrooms, laboratories, farms, factories, and natural field settings ranging from space to the ocean floor.
6.1.7 Explain that technology is essential to science for such purposes as access to outer space and other remote locations, sample collection and treatment, measurement, data collection and storage, computation, and communication of information.
6.2.7 Locate information in reference books, back issues of newspapers and magazines, CD-ROMs, and computer databases.

ISTE NETS Student Standards
Social, ethical, and human issues
Students understand the ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology
Students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity

Technology communications tools
Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences.

Technology research tools
Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.

Schedule of Activities
I would begin this lesson by first introducing the topic of marine life. I would give the students some facts about marine animals and also lead a discussion to find out what the students already know about the topic. I would then give the students a full week to conduct research and become "experts" on the topic of whales. During the week's time, students would have the option of going to the library to do their research through books, go to the computer lab to look up information on the internet, or stay in the classroom to browse through provided magazines and other informational resources. The following week, I would set up a "conference" time where the students could talk to a real marine biologist via Distance Learning. During this "conference" time, the students would be allowed to ask questions to further their investigation about whales and marine life. After the Distance Learning experience, the students would be given a couple of days to write a well researched report including all of the information they had learned.

Assessment
The final assessment for this activity would be the students' written reports. I could also assess students based on the types of questions they pose to the marine biologist during the Distance Learning experience.

Adaptations
If I were to assess a student with a learning disability, I might request that they give me an oral presentation instead of a written report. By assessing the student in a different way, I think I would relieve the student from the anxiety of having to physically write a report, yet the student would still be held responsible for the material. I think I would also be sure to pair the student with a disabiltiy with one of his or her peers that is advanced with technology and researching.

Materials
For this activity, I would need the following materials:
Computer/Internet
Magazines
Books
Distance Learning program