Distance Learning Tools

Grade Level: 5th
Subject:  Language Arts

Mediasite

www.mediasite.com
Mediasite is a webcast site that allows instructors to record lectures and videos and post for their students.
Objective:  Students will be able to watch videos or lectures posted by the teacher in the classroom or outside of the classroom.
Purpose:  The purpose of this tool is to provide students with alternate methods to learn.
Learning Activity:  The students will access a video posted on Mediasite pertaining to keeping a daily journal.  The video will give them an assignment at the end which will be turned in to teacher.
Assessment:  The teacher will check for understanding by making sure the students can access the website and that the elements are contained in the journal entry turned in.

Skype
www.skype.com Skype allows students that are unable to attend school to be an active participant even if it is from their home.
Objective:  Students will be able to learn about different cultures.
Purpose:  The purpose of this tool is to allow students to enrich their learning environment with technology.
Learning Activity:  Students will be in groups of 5 where they will skype with students in another country.  They will have questions composed prior to chat session.  After 4 Skype sessions, students will compose a short presentation to present to the class.
Assessment:  Teacher will monitor their Skype sessions and make sure their presentation is accurate.

Movabletype
www.movabletype.comThis is a blogger site that students could use to post assignments and get feedback from teacher and peers.
Objective:  Students will be able to use this tool to create a blog.
Purpose:  The purpose of this tool is for students to learn how to good digital citizens in a controlled classroom setting.
Learning Activity:  Students will create a blog about an assigned topic that they can discuss with their peers.
Assessment:  Teacher will check for understanding by reviewing the blog and peer responses.
 

Web Based Tools

Grade Level: 5th
Subject: Language Arts

 Paragraph Punch

http://www.paragraphpunch.com/
This web site takes students through the actual steps of writing a paragraph. This will help them be able to become more proficient at writing essays.

Objective: Students will use this website to write an essay on a topic given in class.

Purpose:  The purpose of this is for students to practice their writing skills.

Learning Activity:  Students will be pick a topic given on the website and will use Paragraph Punch to create a 3 paragraph essay.

Assessment: Teacher will check for understanding by making sure that the paragraphs are written in the proper format with correct grammer and punctuation.

 

Mr. Nussbaum
http://mrnussbaum.com/langcode/
Mr.Nussbaum's Classroom is an incredible system that will keep kids begging to come to the computer lab. 

 Objective: Students will use this website to complete reading comprehension skills.

Purpose:  The purpose of this is for students to work on their reading comprehension.

Learning Activity: Students will go to the Language Arts portion of the website and follow instructions to get to the appropriate reading comprehension site.  They will then read the stories and answer the questions that follow.  

Assessment:  Teacher will check percentage of correct answers when student has completed assignment to be able to assess whether student needs additional work.

 

Storybird

http://storybird.com/
This website allows students to use their creativity to write books and add artwork to illustrate.

 Objective:  Students will compose a short story based on a topic given in the classroom.

Purpose:  The purpose of this is to let the students write short stories in a fun and entertaining way.

Learning Activity:  The students will have several topics that they can choose from.  They will compose a short story including illustrations.

Assessment:  Teacher will check for understanding by ensuring that student followed the correct rules for writing were followed.

Hypermedia/Multimedia Web Tools

Grade Level: 5th
Subject: Language Arts

Animoto

 http://animoto.com/
This is a great site for students to use to create presentations using video and music.
Objective:  Students will be able to create a video of the state they have chosen using video and pictures.
Purpose: The purpose of this is for the students to simulate an advertisement by uploading pictures and videos of the state they are interested in moving to.
Learning Activity:  Students will upload pictures and videos of the state they have been researching to make an advertisement persuading others to visit which they will present to the class.
Assessment:  Teacher will check for understanding by making sure the pictures and videos pertain to the student's state and to make sure they use the program correctly.

Sheppards Software
 www.sheppardsoftware.com
This is site allows students to play games as they learn.  It has different subjects and numerous games to challenge students.
Objective:  Students will be able to play games on Language Arts to reinforce what they have learned in the classroom.
Purpose:  The purpose of this is to give the students a fun way to reinforce their learning.
Learning Activity:  The students will use this as a learning center activity where they will have 15 minutes on this website.  They will go to the Language Arts tab and be able to play the games.  This will help strengthen what they have learned in a fun way.
Assessment:  The teacher will monitor their activity to make sure they are getting the full benefits of the website.

Zoho Notebook
www.notebook.zoho.com.
Students can pull live websites into the presentation, images, audio and video clips, or just about anything you can share online. This allows them more creativity to enhance their presentations.
Objective: Students will create a presentation using video clips to convey a message to their peers regarding recycling.
Purpose:  The purpose of this is to allow the students to learn how to be creative with presentations.
Learning Activity:  Students will get into groups of 5 and create a commercial showing the benefits of different types of recycling.  They will create video clips to pull into their presentation.  They will present to the class.
Assessment: The teacher will check for understanding by verifying that the presentation is created using the rubric given to the students to make sure that they used the program correctly.

Presentation Tools

Grade Level: 5th
Subject: Language Arts

MyPlick

http://www.myplick.com/

Students are able to share, embed, and discover presentations and slide shows online.  Upload their presentation documents in a variety of formats such as PowerPoint, PDF, OpenOffice ODP, etc. Upload an audio file and have the option to synchronize the audio with their slides using the online easy-to-use sync tool.

Objective:  Students will be able to add sound and pictures to their presentations.

Purpose:   The purpose of this tool is to show students how to enhance their presentations with audio sound and pictures.

Lesson Activity:  The students will create a PowerPoint presentation using MyPlick to accompany their report on the President of the U.S. they were assigned.

Assessment:  The teacher will check for understanding by making sure the information they have used along with pictures, sounds, etc correlate with their topic.

Empressr
http://www.empressr.com/
Rich media presentation tool.This website allows the student to create and tell their story the way they want. Add photos, music, video, and audio, and share it publicly or privately in an instant.

Objective: Students will be able to write a fictional story and create a book using photos, music, video and/or audio.

Purpose:  The purpose of this tool is to allow the students to use their creativity by adding media to their stories.

Lesson Activity::  The students will create a fictional story on the topic assigned in class.  They will add sound, photos and/or video to make the story come to life.

Assessment:  The teacher will check for understanding by reading the book and making sure that all the images and sounds added to story are appropriate.

Kizoa
http://www.kizoa.com/
A tool for creating photo and video slideshows and collages. The different image editors allow students to add filters and special effects to photos and videos.  The student will also have the ability to add music to enhance their presentation..

Objective:  Students will be able to create a collage using this website.

Purpose:  To help students create a personalized collage to use pictures to convey their message.

Lesson Activity:  The students will be put into groups of 4 and will choose an endangered animal.  They will create a collage to bring awareness to that particular animal and present to the class.

Assessment:  The teacher will check for understanding by making sure the images chosen for their collage are appropriate for their subject and conveys their message.

Database Tools

Grade Level: 5th
Subject: Language Arts


Google Docs

 docs.google.com 
Students would be able to create and share their work online and access their documents from anywhere. They can manage documents, spreadsheets, presentations, surveys, and more all in one place.

Objective:  Students will create expository essay using this site.

Purpose:  To allow the students to create a refined essay using the online tools available.

Learning Activity:  Students will work in groups of 4 to compose an expository essay on a current event of their choice.

Assessment:  Teacher will review essay to check for understanding of resources used.

Sweet Search

 http://www.sweetsearch.com
This is a search engine for students to find information from credible web sites.

Objective:  Students will use sweet search to research information.

Purpose:  The purpose of this is for students to become competent in compiling research from credible sites.

Lesson Activity:  Students will work in groups of 2-3 to find 5 interesting facts on a topic given by teacher.

Assessment:  Teacher will check for student's understanding by reviewing their facts chosen.

http://www.spaaze.com/home
This is an online cork board where students and teachers can collect, organize and share ideas, notes, images, etc.
Objective:  Students will use Spaaze to collect information and share with peers.
Purpose:  The purpose of this activity is for students to learn how to collect information, post and share with their peers.
Lesson Activity:  Students will work in groups of 3 to compose a research paper on a history topic from the book, "The Wednesday Wars".  They will find information to support their topic, post on Spaaze and share with peers.
Assessment:  Teacher will evaluate students posts on Spaaze and their paper to check for accuracy and understanding. 

Spreadsheet Tools

Grade Level: 5th
Subject: Language Arts

Think Quest
http://library.thinkquest.org/J0110054/Reading.html
This site has spreadsheets that can be used for learning vocabulary words and definitions, also use for spelling tests.
Objective:  Students will be able to study for  vocabulary test using spreadsheet.
Purpose:  To find creative ways to help students study.
Learning Activity:  Students will enter vocabulary words and definitions into a spreadsheet that they can use to study for weekly test.
Assessment:  Teacher will check for knowledge of how to use spreadsheet by looking at their vocabulary word sheet.

Google Docs
www.docs.google.com
This site allows you to create spreadsheets for anything.
Objective:  Students will create a spreadsheet using this site.
Purpose:  To help students organize information for a book report.
Learning Activity:  Students will create a spreadsheet to keep track of characters, plot, setting, theme, and conflict to help them outline for book report.
Assessment:  Teacher will go around and check individual spreadsheets to assess student's understanding of how to use the spreadsheet.

Excel
Excel allows users to input information on books, vocabulary words, spelling words and multiple other areas using spreadsheets.
Objective:  Students will create a timeline using Excel.
Purpose:  The students will learn to create a spreadsheet to enhance their understanding of this technology.
Learning Activity:  The students will use Excel to create a timeline of the important events that occur to Holling Hoodhood in "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt.
Assessment:  Teacher will check each student's timeline to gauge their understanding of how to input and organize the information.

Word Processing Tools

Grade Level: 5th
Subjects: Language Arts

On this site you will find technological web tools that will help enhance the learning experience in the classroom.

Which Writing is Right?

 http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/WebLessons/WhichWriting/default.htm                    This site explains what expository writing is to students by giving them examples to read. The student will click on  the clipboard to reveal writing samples and decide whether or not they fit the category of expository writing. 

Objective:  Students will be able to identify expository writing using the Which Writing is Right? web tool.

Purpose:   The purpose of this activity is to reinforce what was learned in the classroom on expository writing.

Lesson Activity:  Students will use this information to help them create an essay using expository writing.

Assessment:  Teacher will check for understanding by making certain that students are presenting facts and ideas in their essay.

 

Adjective Detective

http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/languages/words/adjectives/
This site shows students what adjectives are and how to use them correctly.

Objective:  Students will be able to identify what an adjective is and how to use them correctly in a sentence by using the web tool, Adjective Detective.

Purpose:  The purpose of this activity is to help students identify adjectives and create a short story using descriptive words.  

Lesson Activity:  Students will create a fictional character and using adjectives, create an exciting adventure story.

Assessment: Teacher will check for understanding by checking for accuracy in adjective placement in the story.

Poetry Idea Engine

 http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/flash_pie.htm

This is a wonderful tool that will help students create different types of poems such as haikus, limericks and free verse.  

Objective:  Students will be able to create various types of poems by using the Poetry Idea Engine.

Purpose:  The purpose of this tool is to help students learn to create poems.

Lesson Activity:  Students will work in pairs to create two poems of their choice:  Limerick, Haiku, Cinquain or Free Verse.

Assessment:  Teacher will check for creativity in the poems and how they are formatted.