Developer: Anna Newton Subject(s) of the day's workshop: Review of Homework hand-in and Quiz features Discussion: Power

of Collaboration Discussion Feature

District Technology Workshop Lesson Plan Workshop Title: Edline: Beyond the Basics Day # 4 Prerequisite Knowledge: The Edline for Beginners course or teachers who already have a basic knowledge of Edline. Participants should already know how to set-up their Edline class pages and use the content, links, and news features.

Group Feature Content: This is where teachers, who already have basic knowledge of the features of Edline, will learn what Edline is and the benefits of the Edline program for their classes. Teachers will also learn how to create and use the discussion and group features on Edline to improve students critical thinking skills and achievement. Teachers will have time to practice skills they learned in the computer lab and will be able to add the products they created on their own Edline class pages. Teachers will also learn how to encourage effective collaboration in Edline. Objectives: Participants will be able to Increase their understanding of the Edline online system is and how it can be effectively used in enhancing student engagement and achievement (through e-learning opportunities). Create and effectively use the interactive features of Edline. Create assignments that improve students critical thinking skills.

Lesson Procedure: 1. The instructor will discuss the objectives and schedule for the day. 2. Review of the interactive features: The instructor will quickly review what was taught during the previous two days and ask if there are questions or concerns. If there are questions, then the instructor will answer them. When there are no more questions the instructor will move on with the days lesson. 3. Discussion: a. Participants were asked to review the following websites to prepare for todays discussion: http://online.rit.edu/faculty/teaching_strategies/collaborative_learning/benefits.cfm http://online.rit.edu/faculty/teaching_strategies/collaborative_learning/creating.cfm http://online.rit.edu/faculty/teaching_strategies/collaborative_learning/strategies.cfm http://online.rit.edu/faculty/teaching_strategies/collaborative_learning/assessing.cfm b. Participants will read the article: Learning together in community: Collaboration online found on http://www.oakland.k12.mi.us/Portals/0/Learning/04_1127.pdf c. Based on the website, article, and their own experiences in teaching, participants will engage in a discussion based on the questions below in class (which may continue in the Discussion area of the wiki if more ideas would like to be shared). What is the benefit of collaboration for students? How do we as teachers foster online collaboration with our students? How do we create assignments that improve students collaborative skills while improving their critical thinking skills? How can these ideas be applied to online collaboration in Edline, particularly in online discussion and online group pages? 4. Discussion feature introduction: a. Through progressive displays using the SMART notebook software, the instructor will show the options of the discussion feature that can be used in Edline. 5. Tutorials & Practice # 1: Discussion Feature a. Through progressive displays using the SMART notebook software, the instructor will show how to create and add a

discussion for students to participate in. b. The instructor will give a lecture on how to create and add a discussion assignment using the progressive displays. A handout showing the progressive displays with the procedures next to the graphics will be included in the notes packet passed out at the beginning of class. c. The instructor will then give the participants time to create and post at least two discussion assignments that engage students in critical thinking skills. The instructor will go around helping participants with questions and reminding them to create questions and assignments that engage students in critical thinking skills. d. The instructor will ask participants to either share their work with the class or a fellow participant close by sharing and filling out the evaluation form. When participants share with the class, the class will evaluate if the questions are engaging students in critical thinking skills. e. The instructor will teach participants how to view, manage, and make comments to a discussion in assignment completed by students through progressive displays using the SMART notebook software. f. Using examples provided by the instructor, participants will practice how they would give comments to a students assignment in Edline, paying particular attention to improving their motivation and critical thinking skills. g. Before moving on there will be time for participants to ask questions. 6. Group feature introduction: a. Through progressive displays using the SMART notebook software, the instructor will show how to set-up a group and the options of the group feature that can be used in Edline. 7. Tutorials & Practice # 2: Group Feature a. Through progressive displays using the SMART notebook software, the instructor will show how to create and add a group to Edline. b. The instructor will give a lecture on how to create and add a group using the progressive displays. A handout showing the progressive displays with the procedures next to the graphics will be included in the notes packet passed out at the beginning of class. c. The instructor will then give the participants time to create and post at least one group page with two different assignments that engage students in critical thinking skills. The instructor will go around helping participants with questions and reminding them to create questions that engage students in critical thinking skills. d. The instructor will ask participants to either share their work with the class or a fellow participant close by sharing and filling out the evaluation form. When participants share with the class, the class will evaluate if the questions are engaging students in critical thinking skills. e. The instructor will teach participants how to view, manage, and give feedback to a group completed by students through progressive displays using the SMART notebook software. f. Before moving on there will be time for participants to ask questions. 8. Debrief & Evaluations: a. Before wrapping up for the day, the instructor will ask for more examples from the participants to show the class. The participants will go through the steps to show how they created and added homework hand-in assignments and quizzes to their Edline pages. b. The instructor will ask if there are any questions about Edline and will answer them. c. The participants will complete a short survey regarding the activities of the day before they leave. Homework: Review the following article on this website: http://portfolio.educ.kent.edu/daltone/cmc/articles/jp_aragon.pdf Come prepared to discuss how to maintain your Edline page and foster participation all year. Materials needed: Computer with internet access that is linked to a LCD projector and speakers for the presenter A computer with internet access for each of the participants Computer lab rooms SMART board and SMART notebook Access to the shared G: drive Each teacher will need to be able to access their individual storage on the H: drive or have a flash drive Edline ID and password

Evaluation Strategies: After the participants have created their discussion and group assignments, they will share their creations with the class or a partner. The class or partner will give constructive criticism to improve the understanding and skills with Edline. Each participant will also complete a short survey regarding the activities of the day.