Online Projects, Collaboration Sites, and Publishing Opportunities

Name: Aimee Smith

Grade Level: 1st grade
Content Area: Science
Standards Addressed: S1L1: Students will investigate the characteristics and basic needs of
plants and animals. (d) Compare and describe various animals-appearance, motion, growth,
basic needs.
Title of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity: Bugscope
URL of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity:
http://bugscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/
Describe how you would use the Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity in
your classroom: I would have students collect an insect of their choice to be sent to Bugscope.
Once Bugscope receives them they will prepare them and set up an online meeting with me and
my students. During the meeting the students will be able to explore insect specimens at high
magnification, and discuss what they see with the scientists who join their classroom via video
conferencing.
What technologies would be required to implement this proposed learning activity in a
classroom? A computer, microphone, and a smartboard or projector
Describe how the following features are addressed in this learning experience (note: all of them
may not be addressed in the project, but most should be if you are reaching a high LoTi Level.):
a. Collaboration with peers, near-peers, mentors outside their classroom and often
beyond their school: students will be collaborating with scientists at the University
of Illinois.
b. Student-centered learning and knowledge creation (collecting original data and or
producing original products as a result of engaging in the project): Students will be
collecting the specimen that they will be viewing during the online collaboration.
Then they will collect data about their specimen during the online collaboration.
c. Higher-order thinking: students will explore their own thoughts while observing
their specimen under magnification, and describe the characteristics of their
specimen.
d. Students publishing their original work to others who will use/care about their
product: Students will not be publishing their work for this activity.

Blooms Level of Critical Thinking Required (check all that apply):

See http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Bloom%27s_Taxonomy
Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating Creating
What Level of Technology Implementation best describes this learning activity and Why? This
activity would be a LoTi level 5 because students will have a two-way collaboration with the
scientists at the Illinois University.
How could you implement this proposed learning experience and still comply with your districts
Internet Safety and Student Privacy policies? I would first get permission from the administrator,
and then I would have parents sign a permission slip for their child to participate.