Introduction
"Attention Class! Our classroom has recieved a cart of Chrome Books and iPads! I know this is excting and something new; however, I think these could be really great tools for us to use in our classroom. I know that paper and pencil tests and quizzes get kind of boring, and doing projects like posters sometimes gets old. Therefore, I want to request your guys' help. I need you guys to help me find some websites that you find fun and would like me to use in class. I have compiled a list of options from online teacher resources, and I want you guys to look through some and pick some that you guys would find the most engaging for me to use in class."
"The class will be divided up into teams of 4. Each group member will have their own task to complete as outlined in the "Task" section. The group will then collaborate and combine their information into a Brochure or Newsletter for me to use and to pass out to other teachers to give them ideas on online resources to use in class that are hand selected by students for excellence!"
Goal:
This Webquest aims to help students explore potential programs and online technologies they could use in the classroom that comply with the privacy policies outlined in CIPA and COPPA.
Classroom Description:
The classroom depicted for this Webquest would be defined as a rural school with access to a class set of Chrome Books and or iPads. The students are in a 6th grade life science course, so a majority of them are 11 or 12 years old. A few of the students in my class have autism and have issues focusing in class and using appropriate social behaviors.
CIPA and COPPA compliant:
With technology becoming more accessible and available in schools, teachers are trying to integrate this technology to be a useful and productive resource for them in the classroom. For example, there are a lot of online applications that can be used for assessments or activities that are great for all types of students because they offer assistive technology or options for differentiation or modification. However, with all of this available technology comes a lot of rules that teachers and students must abide by such as age limitations, consent forms and blocking potentially harmful sites or advertisements. Many of these rules are defined under the CIPA, Children’s Internet Protection Act, and COPPA, Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. This activity will allow the students to research potential online activities they would like to see their teachers use in the classroom with the provided class technology while considering the guidelines outlined in CIPA and COPPA.
Task
"Before you begin, please review the following information on the rules that teachers must consider when picking out online resources for students to use. These rules or laws are called CIPA and COPPA and are described in the introduction. Keep these in mind when determing if these resources are appropriate for use in 6th grade."
Group Member #1: Quizzing Resource
- Find an online resource for both individual and group wide studying and quizzing.
- Briefly describe what this resource is and provide a URL.
- Information required to create an account.
- List any terms of service or age requirements a teacher would need to know to make sure they are following the rules of CIPA and COPPA.
Group Member #2: Information Resource
- Find an online resource that allows the teacher and students to share or find information easily.
- Briefly describe what this resource is and provide a URL.
- Information required to create an account.
- List any terms of service or age requirements a teacher would need to know to make sure they are following the rules of CIPA and COPPA.
Group Member #3: Presenting Resource
- Find an online resource students and teachers can use to present information.
- Briefly describe what this resource is and provide a URL.
- Information required to make an account.
- List any terms of service or age requirements a teacher would need to know to make sure they are following the rules of CIPA and COPPA.
Group Member #4: Virtual Activites Resource
- Find an online resource for students to complete virutal activities or projects.
- Briefly describe what this resource is and provide a URL.
- Information required to make an account.
- List any terms of service or age requirements a teacher would need to know to make sure they are following the rules of CIPA and COPPA.
Process
1. As a group, go over the guidelines for CIPA and COPPA from the attached link if you did not already cover it in the "Task" section.
2. Assign each group member a specific job oultine in the "task"section.
3. Use the list I provided of online resources, or use the resources at the bottom of this page to find an online educational resource you would like to see us teachers use in class. Make sure to give a summary/URL of the tool, the terms of service, age requirements and information that the site requires from you to make an account. Make sure to remember that according to COPPA "Children younger than 13 cannot be required to give out more information "than is reasonably necessary" to participate in a site's activities," and according to CIPA "libraries and public schools are required to have Internet safety policies and technology which block or filter certain material from being accessed through the Internet" (Cobb County School District). Therefore, your job is to make sure the online resources are fun and accessible but also keep your personal information private since most of you are younger than 13 years old.
4. Using a template, create a Brochure or Newsletter on Google Docs combing the information your 4 group members found that could be printed and passed out to teachers informing them about these online resources.
5. Make sure to share the Newsletter or Brochure with the teacher's email address to turn it in when finished.
Resources:
https://thejournal.com/articles/2014/04/10/keeping-student-data-private…
Scholastic: 25 Best Websites for Teachers:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/25-best-websites-teachers
http://www.informationweek.com/coppa-checklist/d/d-id/1022603?
Safe Kids: Kid's Rules for Online Safety
Evaluation
Rubric Checklist:
_ /5 points: Students collaborate and worked well in groups.
_ /5 points: The Online Resource accomplishes the group member's assigned goal.
_ /5 points: Summary/URL of online resource.
_ /5 points: Age Limits and Terms of Service are listed for the specific online tool.
_ /5 points: Information required for you to create an account is listed to determine if it complies with CIPA and COPPA.
_ /5 points: Students created a professional Brochure or Newsletter with appropriate titles, headings, required information and visual appeal.
_ / 30 points: Total Grade
Conclusion
This activity is to allow you to have a say in the classroom! This is called "student voice," and I'm very passionate about letting you guys actively participate in your learning.
This project, allows the students to help out the teachers. How fun?! In this project you and your group got to play the role of teacher and help educate me and other teachers about online resources that we can use in the classroom that keep students' personal information private. By doing this, us teachers can know that these resources are honestly kid tested and student approved! The Brochure or Newsletter that you created will help teachers this year and years from now have an idea of some websites and resources they can use in their classroom for quizzing, finding or reporting information, doing virtual activities or presenting information.
So what I’m trying to say is, great job and thank you for your help!
Teacher Page
Suggestions for teacher use:
- A webquest can be used to turn paper projects into online projects.
- Teachers could use this for project or paper outlines as an alternative way of administering directions.
- For science specifically, I could turn the lab activity into an online version and have students do a virtual lab with all of the directions and procedures for the activity in their own webquest tab. This physical seperation of material and guideline can help break up the material for the students so projects are more organized and not as visually overwhelming.
Benefits:
- Organized Format.
- Easily manuverable format.
- Capability to embed links and videos.
- Accessible for all types of student learners because they can read sections at their own pace and easily go back to sections they need more work on.
- Teachers can differentiate the tasks within the webquest to modify the difficulty or level of open-endedness to reach all tiers of students.
- Webquests give teachers a chance to integrate technology with authentic tasks and audiences. For example, my webquest uses various online links and interactiver resources to have the students create a newsletter or brochure for an authentic audience; that authentic audience being their peers and teachers.
Considerations and Drawbacks:
- Webquests require internet access and usually student collaboration so they may have to be done competely on class time especially in rural districts like mine where some students have limited internet access at home.
- Students may find it boring if it is not interactive enough or centered around an authentic assignment.
- It may be hard for students to focus using the computer the whole time.
- Finding links that are at the appropriate grade level for your students may be challenging.
- For students with disabilities, such as autism, the social and collaborative aspect may not be a good option. However, you could have the student work individually on the webquest and just do one of the group member's tasks.
Content and Technology Integration Standards:
- Empowered Learner
- 1B: Students build networks and customize their learning environments in ways that support the learning process.
- 1D: Students understand the fundamental concepts of technology operations, demonstrate the ability to choose, use and troubleshoot current technologies and are able to transfertheir knowledge to explore emerging technologies.
- Knowledge Constructor
- 3A: Students plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information and other resources for their intellectual or creative pursuits.
- Digital citizenship
- 2B: Students engage in positive, safe, legal and ethical behavior when using technology, including social interactions online or when using networked devices.
- 2D: Students manage their personal data to maintain digital privacy and security and are aware of data-collection technology used to track their navigation online.
- Creative Communicator
- 6A: Students choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.
- 6D: Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.
- Global Collaborator
- 7B: Students use collaborative technologies to work with others, including peers, experts or community members, to examine issues and problems from multiple viewpoints.
- 7C: Students contribute constructively to project teams, assuming various roles and responsibilities to work effectively toward a common goal.