iEARN
2. Envision


Goals and Objectives
  Activity 1: Learning goals
Activity 2: Problem-Base Units
Activity 3: Developing an Action Project Plan
Examples of Project Activities
Resources and Suggestions

 

Translate this Page:

 

" iEARN is like a big room where you can find the 93 countries of iEARN
sitting all together at one table. They are sharing experiences. They are
working together to make their countries better. "
-Sharif, Egypt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Bonny Bracey giving a presentation at the iEARN conference in Capetown

 

 

 

 

 

 

" When we joined iEARN 8 years ago...that opened up the world so that now
my elementary students are members of a multiethnic, multinational world.
They work with kids all over the world almost every day of their lives."
 -Charly Bullock, New Mexico, USA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Participants at the 2001 iEARN conference in South Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

" iEARN not only can bridge the gaps for communication around the world but
as the kids get older and make their moves into the political arena and
life's arena...those bridges that they build now as youth will highly
affect the livelihood of us as adults."
-Cleveland, OH, USA

 

 

 

 

 


Andrew Grene, iEARN - Sierra Leone and Jove Jankulowski, iEARN - Macedonia

 

 

 

 

 

 


Activity 1: Learning Goals

Questions to ask to determine how an iEARN project will meet your learning goals

Curriculum

  1. What does your curriculum require?
  2. Have look at iEARN projects in your subject area. Here is the link to the projects happening now http://collaborate.iearn.org/space-2 web link
  3. How do you think your classroom pedagogy can be enhanced through the culture of iEARN and participation in an iEARN project?
  4. Creating a plan for the project is the next step.

Here is a plan developed by some of the iEARN online course facilitators; Marina Kosinova, Janet Cook, Rosy Aguila and Nelly Platon. Some parts of this project plan will be discussed in greater depth in following sections of the CD-ROM.

Planning your Project

The key to implementing a successful project is having a good plan. We could discuss what constitutes a good plan, each of us would have different ideas and opinions. Regardless of what your definition is, whatever you decide must actually work and be put into action during this class.

As you work on a classroom plan think about the opportunities a project opens up. As a teacher you have many objectives that you accomplish through your lessons. Projects are excellent opportunities to bring together cross-curricular learning.


First iEARN teacher training in bamako, Mali. February 2003

Your chosen project might actually involve a great deal of language and communication skills as well as research. That same project might also accomplish some technological objectives. Just as your project might be global in its communication nature think also as to how your project can reach outside the walls of your classroom:

  • Can you involve other teachers?
  • Can parents and community also participate?
  • What long term lasting effect do you want for your project?
  • How will your students know that they accomplished something? We will revisit this question in the “Assess” section of this CD-ROM

Visit the Teachers Lounge web link
*Need help signing into the forums? (See Tutorials web linkor contact support@us.iearn.org)

Share your thoughts on planning. Share what works best for you.

There are a couple of guidelines that we believe would be helpful to follow:

First, be realistic. Plan things that you believe you can actually and reasonably accomplish. Choose goals and time frames that will work for you and your students.
Second, use dates. The best plans have a definite beginning and just as importantly a definite ending. It should be clear that you and your class have accomplished something.
Third, be detailed. The crucial step is to develop a detailed plan.

Your plan should include:

 
  1. Teacher goals and student goals

  2. A timetable
    * Dates, class periods, etc.

  3. Specific lessons:
    * Introductory
    * How will you present this project to your students?
    * How will you tie it into their curricular studies?
    * How will you get them interested in the topic?
    * What background knowledge do your students bring to the project?
    * Productivity of work
    * Will your students need to do research for their project?
    * How will they be organized to gather information?
    * Who will be responsible and in charge?
    * How will the appropriateness of their work be evaluated?
    * How you will handle the e-mail exchanges, how often, who will be in charge?
    * Conclusion of activity
    * When does your participation end?
    * How will the students draw their projects to a conclusion?

  4. Identify technological and material requirements
    * Technological requirements
    * Material requirements

Technology

What kind of technology have you used to teach this subject before? What was the purpose? What were the successes and challenges?

My professional development

What are some of the goals you have for your development as an educator?
Now that you have had an overview of iEARN, what ways do you think iEARN can help you meet those goals?


Here is an example of a project outline completed by first time iEARN teacher reflecting on how the project will work in the her classroom. Prepared by Jill Read, Hamilton International Middle School, Seattle, Washington USA
  1. Teacher goals and student goals

    2. Teacher Goals:
    To have my students communicate with students from around the world and to give them a chance to write and think creatively and artistically.

    Student Goals:
    To talk to other kids from other parts of the world and to compare, in photographs and writing, what we see and think of here and what they see and think of there.

  2. A timetable -- Dates, class periods, etc.

    - May 31st-June 10th.
    - All periods (1/8 block, 2/3 block, 6/7 block)
    - We may only work on this project every other day depending on the amount of time we have and how much time this project needs.


  3. Specific lessons

    Introductory
    * How will you present this project to your students?
    I will try to get the example project from last year to show my class so that they will have a good picture of what this project will look like. If I can’t get last year’s, I will make an example project for them to look at.

    * How will you introduce iEARN to your students?
    I plan on demonstrating the iEARN forums to them by displaying it on my LCD projector and having them watch me sign in and add a discussion or reply to someone so that they will understand how it works.

    * How will you tie it into their curricular studies?
    It actually ties in very well because I teach Language Arts, World Geography and Washington State History. This project encompasses all of those subjects and will be a great culminating project. It also meets many district standards.

    * How will you get them interested in the topic?
    I think that by showing them an example project and telling them that they will be communicating with other students from around the world, they will be excited right away. I don’t think it will take much to get them interested.

    * What background knowledge do your students bring to the project?
    They have done projects throughout the year, they are all familiar with computers, and we have done different modes of writing to prepare for the creative writing that this project allows.

    4. Productivity of work
    * Do your students need to learn some basic skills before starting the project?
    They may need to practice working with the digital cameras. It will be important for them to see an example so they know exactly what I’ll be expecting from them. They will also need to know how to use iEARN so that they can communicate in the forums.

    * Will your students need to do research for their project?
    My students will need to do a little research possibly. There are certain categories of pictures they need to take and they may need to get ideas from the internet or other resources.

    * How will they be organized to gather information and produce their work?
    I think I will put them into groups of 4. They will then split up the categories so that not everyone has to do all 12 categories. Each person in each group can do 3 categories.

    * Who will be responsible and in charge?
    I will assign roles (group leader, task master, note taker, and equipment manager). The roles may change.

    * How will the appropriateness of their work be evaluated?
    I will make a rubric for them to follow so they will know how to get an “A” on this project and what is appropriate and what is not. I will also have the example for them to see so they will get an idea of what’s appropriate.

    Conclusion of activity

    * When does your participation end?
    My participation ends when the example has been shown, the rubric has been passed out and the iEARN demonstration is done. Of course I’ll be there to assist and guide but the students will be in control of the project from there.

    *How will the students draw their projects to a conclusion?
    The students will be sending their projects to other students around the world who are participating in this same project. They will also be viewing projects from other students around the world.

  4. Identify technological and material requirements

    * Technological requirements:
    Digital cameras, computers, color printer.

    * Material requirements:
    Nice paper to print the final products on, a comb binder.


top

HomeHome
Table of Contents | Additional Resources | Help | Contact