Summary for the 2nd semester course starting in January: We will give course credit and we will meet every day.
This 18 week elective for freshmen and sophomores is a project based course that will be broken into five units, each taught by a different teacher. The goal of the course is for students to create a base of knowledge in 21st century information and technology skills and concepts that will give students the confidence to use technology to improve and enhance their learning, now and in the future. The skills and concepts students will learn include organization of information, Internet search and evaluation, database creation, open source applications, website creation, presentation technologies (Prezi, Glogster, Powerpoint) and collaborative technologies (Wikis, blogs and Voice Thread). At the end of the course, students will have a digital portfolio of their work.

Skills/Concepts and Sequence of Teaching for Students - No homework
The 18 week elective will be broken into five units, each taught by one of the workshop participants.
First Day - we all introduce ourselves and answer questions, give overview.
  • Information Skills: Information and source evaluation, Accesses information proficiently, Ethical Use of Information - Diane Cileno (3 weeks)
    • Need to have a pre-assessment of overview of technology
    • Goal: End up with an annotated bibliography that they can use for the next segments
    • Goal: Have students find their own topics
  • Using Open Source Technologies to Discover and Disseminate Information Online - Google Apps – Chris Clinton (3 weeks)
  • Technology Presentation: Prezi & Movies - Stephanie Hoban (3 weeks)
  • Information Dissemination and Collaboration- Glogster, Wikis, and Blogs - Abigail Buffum (3 weeks)
  • Information Creation- Website Creation - Karin Drowne (3 weeks)
  • Cyber Bullying - iSafe Curriculum (2 weeks) - Chris Clinton & everybody else pitches in
  • Week of presentations (2 days of preparing and 3 days of presentations)- All teachers
    • Big presentation party with kids choosing one technology that they want to perfect and present to parents and friends
    • Present a digital portfolio - Googlio

Class Overview (the big idea)
Students will choose a cause that they feel strongly about. The cause can be global, national, local or here at ABRHS. For each unit of the class, students will use information and technology tools to learn about and promote their chosen cause. Students will focus on using the technology tools to create a positive outcome for their cause. Students can work individually or in groups of two.