For this "design experiment" I looked at several Google products: Classroom, Tour Builder, Hangouts, and Scholar. I watched a couple of videos on Google Classroom and I am impressed with all of the options for it to support an online classroom. It looks like a great, simple class management system with the ability to assign homework, turn in homework, share information, and for everyone in the class to interact with one another. Because I couldn't make an account, I don't know if I would like it better than Edmodo which allows student accounts to be made quickly and easily. I fell in love with Tour Builder and even made a quick autobiography to track all the places I lived/visited and to see how much of the globe I have covered. I even looked at a few Tour Builders that tracked the founding of companies. I like how stories are told through prose, pictures, and geographical locations. I didn't like the zoom in/out of the screen, which can make it a bit awkward to design (especially if some places require more map space than others). I looked at Google Hangouts and had a quick 'call' with a friend which went better than expected. (I'm a big fan of Skype). While figuring it out took a little while, I like that there are options for small group video calls (and free--unlike Skype.) Lastly, I looked at Google Scholar which impressed me with the amount of full-text scholarly articles available. It's like accessing an awesome database that schools have to pay to subscribe to. I think databases are a bit easier to navigate and refine searches, though. In brainstorming ideas on how and what I might teach with them, I decided to come up with a holistic activity.
In the High School English Language Arts classroom, research papers and historical fiction are staples to the curriculum. While this could be done for any number of books, this project focuses on "The Red Badge of Courage" by Robert Crane.
Objectives
1. Students will learn about the historical setting of the novel through research.
2. Students will be able to present their ideas from their research by creating a visual 'Tour.'
3. Students will be able to relate the figurative language found in the literary work by connecting it to its historical setting.
Pedagogy
Overall, this lesson follows Anchored Instruction because "The Red Badge of Courage" is the focal point for activities beyond reading comprehension. In this particular activity, students will research the American Civil War in order to understand the novel's historical context and develop a deeper understanding of the novel.
Students will work with a partner in this project both in and out of the classroom. Google Hangouts will help facilitate collaboration, and students will be able to learn from one another, filling in gaps in each other's knowledge as evidenced in Vygotsky's Social Development Theory.
By generating their own research, determining its relevance, and connecting the research to the book, students will learn through the Cognitive Flexibility Theory.
Research Project
1. Students will work with a partner to research the battles in the American Civil War using a variety of resources, with an emphasis on Google Scholar for their search engine.
2. Students will determine which battles are the most relevant (whether in regards to the war itself or to the novel).
3. Using Google Tour Builder, students will create a visual timeline to document the locations of each of the battles with a statement about the battle's importance to the Civil War and/or the novel.
**Google Classroom will be a source of communication between the teacher and the students both in and out of the classroom. Virtual conference hours will be kept. Assignment information and due dates will be posted. Students can interact with one another, with the teacher, and submit their assignments.
**Google Hangouts will be for pairs to communicate at home/out of class.
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