Grade_8_Assurred_Experience

**// Latest Revision Date: //** The AE described below is a revision of objectives and activities included Mansfield Public Schools Science Curriculum (MPS-Science) (that was last revised in 2005 and was based on the Connecticut Science Curriculum Frameworks (CT Frameworks – Science) created in 2005. The AE is also based on the Technology Goals and Objectives expressed in the Mansfield Public Schools Technology Plan (MPS – Tech) ( [|__http://www.mansfieldct.org/schools/mms/curriculum/2006.pdf__] ) that was last revised in 2006 and incorporates the standards articulated in the Connecticut Pre-K through Grade 12 Computer Technology Competency Standards for Students (2001).  ** Targeted Disciplines ** : Science and Technology – Grade 8.    This AE is being developed to address multiple content standards and objectives by engaging students in authentic, real world tasks that will provide both challenges and support for all students. > C INQ.1, through C INQ.10) > [|__http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/word_docs/curriculum/science/framework/sciencecoreframework2005v2.doc__]  This AE is also being created to better align with established curriculum 21st Century Skills as expressed by:    ·    ISTE NETS·S (NETS·S) ( [|__http://www.iste.org/inhouse/nets/cnets/students/pdf/NETS_for_Students_2007.pdf__] )   ·    AASL Standards for the 21st-Century Learner (AASL)    ( [|__http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/learningstandards/AASL_Learning_Standards_2007.pdf__] ) The district curriculum that is being modified by this AE is found here:  ·   Mansfield Public Schools Science Curriculum (MPS-Science) [|__http://www.mansfieldct.org/schools/mms/curriculum/Grade8_Science_Curriculum.pdf__]  ·   Mansfield Public Schools Technology Plan (MPS – Tech) - Goals and Objectives ( [|__http://www.mansfieldct.org/schools/mms/curriculum/2006.pdf__] ) The Essential Questions are derived from MPS curriculum documents. Each question is followed by a notation of its relationship to the State of Connecticut Science Curriculum Framework (2005), the Connecticut Prekindergarten through Grade 12 Computer Technology Competency Standards for Students (2001), NETS·S (2007), and/or the AASL Standards for 21st Century Learner (2007)  ·  ** Science ** – What makes objects move the way they do? (CT Frameworks – Science, C22, C23, C24)  ·  **  Science  **  – How do planes and birds fly? Explain how Newton’s 3rd Law and “Bernoulli’s effect” work together to achieve lift? ( CT Frameworks – Science, C22, C23, C24) // (CT 5-8 Computer Technology Performance Standards For Students: Competency Standards 4, 5, & 6 -Competencies 4.1 – 4.5, 5.2, 5.5, 5.6, 5.8, 5.11, 5.12, 5.13 //  //  (NETS·S Standards: (1) Creativity and Innovation, (2) Communication (3) Research and Information Fluency) Standards: 1.1-1.4, 2.1-2.4, 3.1-3.4  // ** Targeted Grade Level: ** Grade 8   **// Abstract (one paragraph): //** This Assured Experience (AE) **will use 21st century technology techniques** to **enhance an existing science unit** that explores the forces of motion that affect the physics of flight. This AE **can be used with any science question (unit)** that requires investigation and collaboration (which is essentially the nature of science, itself.) All eighth grade **students of all ability levels** currently participate in this curricular six-week unit that explores forces acting on the flight of an airplane, and they will certainly participate in this Assured Experience. **Modifications will be made for students** requiring additional assistance, extra instructional time. **Projects of varying degrees of challenge or support will be provided per IEP and** recommendations of Support Services staff members as well as **adaptations for English Language Learners**. Heretofore, these students have been provided these opportunities and they will be provided in this curricular unit as well. There are three main elements to this unit: Students pose testable questions about scientific problems associated with the “problem of flight,” analyze collected data, and then use the collected information to modify model airplanes to fly the greatest distance. All research and finding will be shared as a class to achieve this goal. **This proposal modifies the nature of the classroom environment significantly.** What exists is a “teacher-centric” unit where the teacher assigns discrete problems to small groups of students who research effects of modifications to their planes and determine which forces (of flight) had the greatest impact on performance. The students submitted their projects to the teacher who distilled the results of all groups with a final summary. This AE will change the dynamics of the classroom to a “student-centric” environment where students will conduct research individually, collaborate as small teams and work as a part of a larger team of scientists to share their information in a collaborative Wiki web site, which will be accessible to all students in the grade level via the Internet and to other groups who will participate and/or comment on the project from other schools and agencies. **The basic implementation of the classroom transformation will be very doable and will be enhanced by additional activities that will be introduced. For example, illustrations that show the effects on changes to the forces of flight will be done by students creating Flash animations instead of paper and pencil sketches.** **The Library Media Specialist will be instrumental in providing fundamental research skills** by including the Big 6 Information research skills in the unit curriculum. Hardware and software resources listed in the **Hardware and Software Utilization Plan below** will enhance the teaching and learning experience in this unit. It is envisioned that members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics will be invited to serve as critical mentors to comment on the findings and conclusions of flight test information and become a general partner in the project as they have in the past. Student Assessment for this Assured Experience will be performance-based and will include a skills assessment. Participating teachers will be afforded training opportunities tailored to meet the needs that will assure the greatest success of the overall AE. This training will include opportunities to collaborate with teachers outside of the school district who are already providing assured, technologically rich, learning experiences. **Commitments have been made by this staff and teachers in the Groton School District who have been successfully providing resonant assured experiences** to their students. A “**Summer** **Academy**” will provide customized training for participating teachers. Further professional training strands that are offered during the school year will be tailored to meet identified additional training needs as they arise. Furthermore, teachers creating this Assured Experience will be provided adequate time during school normal working hours to prepare curriculum materials. **Teachers and the IT staff in this school work closely with EASTCONN Technology Training Staff. They will be a partner and advisor in all training endeavors**. Their input will be sought on teacher training, development of curricular materials and activities, as well as suggest the best means to maximize collaboration opportunities through Wikis, VoiceThreads, podcasts, and blogs. **CSDE Science Curriculum Standards are met in the Mansfield Middle Schools eighth grade science curriculum. The technology skills infused in this unit are compliant with the technology curriculum incorporated into the District Technology Plan and deemed to be in unison with the objectives of the CSDE Student Technology Competencies** The proposed budget for this grant will make certain that teachers have appropriate time to attend training, meetings, observe other schools, etc. including the provision of substitute teachers, where necessary. The use of computers, the Internet, data probes, digital cameras will be in great use. Portable, wireless, laptop computers are available for use in the classrooms along with multiple fixed PCs. A **full-time IT Coordinator and Technology Aide are available** to the entire school and will ensure that hardware and software support is provided. It is envisioned that this unit will be piloted in spring of 2009. **The Science Curriculum Council and Technology Councils will monitor the success** this AE. The results of the pilot course will be reviewed by the respective groups and modifications, deemed necessary for improvement, will be made in a summer workshop during the summer of 2009. ** Current MPS Science Curriculum Activity  ** || ** AE - 21st Century Skills Activity  ** || Students conduct research and share report information and test flight results within their assigned group(s). ||  Teams of students will research teacher-assigned topics. Reportswill become reference pages in a class //Wiki//. The //Wiki// will be connected to a home page which will permit readers to explore the information produced by each team. The //Wiki// will provide a discussion venue, report flight results, post test data, respond to teacher questions or //VoiceThreads// posed for discussion, and illustrate test variables with Flash videos and Podcasts || Record, in research reports, the effects of dynamic changes to model airplanes such as weight, speed, attack angle, etc. with hand drawings or sketches. ||  Create Podcasts and //Flash// videos that will illustrate the affects on flight as the result of dynamic changes to model airplanes such as weight, speed, attack angle, etc. The videos will be posted on a class //Wiki// that will become a //Principles of Flight// manual. || The classroom teacher collates all group materials which is shared with the class in a final-review type format. ||  A //Principles of Flight// manual will be assembled from the collected data that will be connected to the school’s web site. This manual will become a reference for follow-on teams of students to construct their model planes to test various flight theories  || // Resources needed **(include personnel, technology/hardware/Internet access)**  // // Adaptations for Special Needs Students/ELLs ** :
 * Grade 8: ** **__ Forces of Motion - The Problem of Flight __**
 * State the Curricula Standards Addressed by this AE: **
 * Connecticut Standards and Expected Performances – Core Science for Grades 6 -8 (This AE meets the standards for Scientific Inquiry, Literacy, and Numeracy,
 * AE Objectives. Students will: **
 * Use the Big 6™ Information and Problem Solving ( [|__www.big6.org__] ) process for online research to be used by members of a team to complete information tasks presented in a teacher guided //Wiki// ( __www.//Wikis//paces.com__ ) and to collaboratively collect and organize team information about Bernoulli's principle, 4 forces of flight, gravity, balance, Newton's third law, model building, and the scientific method.
 * The classroom teacher, library media center staff, technology staff, and support staff, will assist student-teams in online, collaborative, problem-solving techniques to assemble a //Principles of Flight// manual using Web 2.0 tools for research, comment, edit, illustration, and assembly. This manual will be used by students to construct model planes for testing.
 * Students will illustrate the dynamics of flight forces such as lift, drag, pitch, and yaw by the creation of //Flash// videos posted on a collaborative //Wiki//.
 * Students will use probes to gather position-time data that that will be imported to spreadsheets to aid in determination of trends, draw conclusions, and to make predictions about variables affecting flight dynamics
 * Students will invite discussion and observations about their posted findings through the use of //VoiceThreads// and podcasts. Distant collaboration will be enhanced by periodic //Skype// meetings with participating schools and organizations like the Academy of Model Aeronautics.
 * // Essential Understandings, Concepts and/or Questions:  //**
 * ** Technology - ** Mansfield Technology Goals & Objectives Gr 5 – 8: Use technology tools to work with others to identify, locate, organize, create, and share information when presented with an information problem; Real-world uses of electronic spreadsheets, telecommunications and the Internet. Understand ethical use of other’s work and avoid plagiarism; Use a variety of technology tools data gathering and analysis, and for individual and collaborative writing, publishing, and problem solving;
 * // Description of AE (detail activity; list format is preferred):  //**
 * Use the Big 6™ Information and Problem process for online research to be used by members of a team to complete information tasks presented in a teacher guided //Wiki// that will also serve as a venue to collaboratively collect and organize team information about Bernoulli's principle, 4 forces of flight, gravity, balance, Newton's third law, model building, and the scientific method.
 * Participate in collaborative problem-solving activities, research and make use of scientific concepts, gather and publish plane performance data, for the purpose of developing a //Principles of Flight// manual that will be shared with viewers inside and outside of the school via the World Wide Web. The manual will be constructed by creating a research plan based on the Big 6™ Process for information tasks.
 * Use //Wikis// as a collaborative online tool that groups can use and share information such as flight test results, post test data, respond to teacher questions or posed for discussion
 * Use probe-ware to collect flight information, export the raw data to a spreadsheet where they will conduct statistical analysis, and create charts or graphs to assist them in detecting trends, drawing conclusions, and making predictions.
 * Create //Flash// video animations to illustrate the effects of changes made to model airplane and which will be added to the online //Principles of Flight// manual.
 * Collaborate with other invited schools to discuss flight test findings, share researched information including the completed //Physics of Flight// manual via //Wikis, Skype, VoiceThreads//, etc.
 * Internet Connection (preferably high speed CEN connection from the school).
 * Accounts on //Wikis//paces.com (basic account free, schools can choose to upgrade at cost).
 * Staff training for: Big 6 Research Skills, //Wikis//, //VoiceThreads//, Macromedia //Flash//, //Skype//
 * Access to Library Media Center
 * Digital probes such as, Position-motion detectors
 * Microsoft //Excel//
 * Access to computer lab or access to mobile wireless lab.
 * Macromedia’s //Flash//
 * Microphones, earphones for //Skype// & Podcasts
 * // Prior Learning Required:  //**
 * Students should be generally proficient with computers and computer peripheral equipment.
 * Students need to understand how to create a scientific investigation of their testable questions.
 * Students should be able to organize data in tables and spreadsheets, and create charts and graphs and be able to recognize bad data.
 * Students should be able to export data to spreadsheets, use advanced features such as parsing data, and create formulas.

** //  The technology being used lends itself to making adaptations for special needs students. For example: The practical and intelligent use of educational technology hardware and software described herein will enhance the assured learning experience for each student. A full-time technology coordinator and technology aide are always available to provide technology support as required whether it is hardware or software related or assistance is needed for integrating educational technology into curricular activities.  Category  || Item  || Description  || Use  || Support  || Hardware || Pasco Motion Detectors  || Collect motion-position data || Data exported to spreadsheets for comparing effects of changes to flight dynamics such as weight, speed, etc. || IT Support Staff  || Hardware || Headsets  || Earphone-microphones for computer communications || Skype conference || IT Support Staff  || Hardware || Digital Microphones  || Microphone for group computer communications || Means of communication with collaborating students / schools || IT Support Staff  || Software License || Macromedia Flash || Create //Flash// animations || Used to digitally illustrate effects of forces of motion on test plane surfaces (wings, rudder) || IT Support Staff  || Hardware || Video cameras || Create WMV videos || Windows movie maker || IT Support Staff  || Hardware || Digital cameras || Collect photographs || Used in Wiki, web site, blog, etc. || IT Support Staff  || **// Teacher Notes and Reflections: //**
 * appropriate scaffolding
 * teacher guided reading activities for comprehension
 * technology add-ons to ensure sight/and or hearing impaired access to materials
 * technology add-ons for help with writing assignments (CoWriter)
 * graphic organizers
 * individual as well as heterogeneous grouping
 * assignments can be varied in difficulty
 * visual and auditory aids
 * one-to-one assistance with guided questioning and analysis
 * reading materials/websites of varied reading levels
 * In addition to the modifications above, effective ELL modifications will includemovies (//YouTube// or //TeacherTube// style) that can be posted on the //Wiki// for reference and tailored podcasts.
 * Hardware / Software **
 * Teachers using this unit will need to take time to become familiar with tools such as //Big 6 Information Skills//, Wikis, //VoiceThreads//, Skype, //Macromedia Flash//.  Podcasts and movies.   Professional Development will be essential.
 * This is a major unit conducted in the spring (6 weeks)
 * It is important for the classroom teachers to coordinate the unit with other staff.
 * If the school building is wireless it is also advisable to pull wireless resources together for such a unit.