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=Welcome to the Group 3 Learning Communities Content Area Unit Plan Wiki!=

For your Application Assignment in Weeks 5–7 you will be developing a **Content Area Unit Plan**. For this assignment, a unit plan is defined as a set of sequential lessons designed to teach related skills and concepts. For example, a unit plan on statistics might include lessons on mean, median, mode, data graphing, and statistical analysis. Although a fully-developed unit plan might consist of several weeks of lessons, for this assignment, you will develop only **three** lesson plans: one that incorporates a problem-based learning activity, one that utilizes a social collaboration tool, and one that asks students to create a digital story. You will be required to implement one of the lessons (from either Week 5 or Week 6).

To support you as you develop your lessons, you will be divided into learning communities. Your learning community will use a wiki to share your lessons and evaluate and give each other feedback on your lessons. This learning community activity will provide several benefits. You will be able to learn from your professional colleagues in a collaborative and supportive environment. You will also have the opportunity to apply feedback to revise and edit your lesson plans before submitting them to the Instructor. Take full advantage of the opportunity to learn from your colleagues in the learning community, as well as from insights you gain from the implementation of one of the lessons, before you submit the final version of your Content Area Unit Plan.

APA format is **not** required in your wiki posts. The goal of the wiki element of your course project is to generate feedback that will be used to strengthen your Content Area Unit Plan before you submit it for assessment by your Instructor and ultimately place it in your ePortfolio. However, your contributions are part of your graded coursework and, as such, should represent professional work. Please proofread your entries carefully.

Unit Plan Assignment: Problem-Based Learning Lesson
Reflect on the PBL examples provided on the Next Step page of Week 4 and identify a real-world problem you would like to use as the focal point of a lesson for your students.

**Step 1:** Develop a lesson plan that introduces students to the problem you have selected and outlines the steps students will take once they understand the problem.

In your lesson plan, include the following:


 * The grade level and subject area addressed
 * A brief description of the lesson
 * The learning outcomes, skills, and content area objectives or standards the lesson will address
 * The steps of the lesson including the problem you will pose to students and an explanation of how the problem is relevant to your students
 * How students will use technology during this portion of the PBL process
 * How you will customize the activity for diverse learners in your classroom
 * How you will assess student learning as a result of this lesson

Please refer to the course text for a GAME plan lesson template example. Sample lessons follow each of the content area chapters.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Suggested assignment length: 1–2 pages

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**Step 2:** Upon completion of your lesson for this week, copy and paste it into your wiki page by **11:59 PM** on **Sunday**. By **11:59 PM** on **Wednesday** of **Week 6**, please leave feedback on **two** of your learning community members’ PBL lesson plans. Make any revisions necessary to your final assignment based on your community members’ feedback before you submit your lessons to your ePortfolio in Week 7.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**Note:** Do not submit your lesson to the Instructor at this time.

<span style="color: #3c531d; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">Unit Plan Assignment: Online Collaboration Lesson
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Last week you developed the first part of your **Content Area Unit Plan**: a problem-based learning lesson to help your students understand and apply skills and concepts from your content area. This week, you will create (and possibly implement) a lesson using a social networking/online collaboration tool. As you plan your lesson this week, keep in mind the PBL activity you designed in Week 5 and the digital storytelling lesson you will create in Week 7.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**Step 1:** Develop a lesson plan that incorporates social networking and/or online collaboration. With your students in mind, think about how you will implement a social networking/online collaboration component to do the following:


 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Help students learn and apply content-based skills and concepts
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Facilitate an authentic learning experience to promote deeper student engagement with content skills and concepts
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Support students’ efforts to identify solutions to the problem you introduced in the first part of your learning activity
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Strengthen students’ collaboration skills

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**Reminder:** Because the Content Area Unit Plan contains three separate lessons, be sure to include the following in each lesson plan:


 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">The grade level and subject area addressed
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">A brief description of the lesson
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">The learning outcomes, skills, and content area objectives or standards the lesson will address
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">The steps of the lesson
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">How students will use social networking and/or online collaboration tools in the lesson
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">How you will customize the lesson for diverse learners in your classroom
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">How you will incorporate a creative thinking component in the lesson
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">How you will assess student learning as a result of this lesson
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">How you will manage this activity in your classroom

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Please refer to the course text for a GAME plan lesson template example. Sample lessons follow each of the content area chapters.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Suggested assignment length: 1–2 pages

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**Step 2:** Upon completion of your lesson plan for this week, copy and paste it into your wiki page by **11:59PM** on **Sunday**.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">By **Wednesday** of **Week 7**, please leave feedback on **two** of your learning community members’ lesson plans. Make any revisions necessary to your final assignment based on your community members' feedback before you submit your lesson plans to your ePortfolio.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**Step 3:** If you are implementing this lesson with students, do so prior to the end of Week 7. You will be asked to reflect on the process of developing and implementing the lesson as part of your final course Reflection. Although you may not be able to incorporate feedback from your learning community members, the implementation experience will allow you to improve and reflect upon your teaching practice.

<span style="color: #3c531d; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">Unit Plan Assignment: Digital Storytelling Lesson
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">For this week’s assignment, you will complete the final piece of your Content Area Unit Plan—a lesson that incorporates digital storytelling. As you plan your third lesson, keep in mind the problem-based learning activity you designed in Week 5 and the social networking/online collaboration lesson you created in Week 6.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**This week:** Develop a lesson plan that incorporates digital storytelling. With your students in mind, think of the potential applications of digital storytelling for your content and decide how you will use digital storytelling in your lesson. Reflect on the following questions as you make decisions about your digital storytelling lesson:


 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">How will students use digital storytelling?
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">To teach classmates content?
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">To demonstrate their understanding of content?
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">To report on their work throughout the problem-based learning process?


 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">What tools will they use?
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">How will you manage the development and sharing of the digital stories?

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**Reminder**

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">In your lesson plan, include the following:


 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">The grade level and subject area addressed
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">A brief description of the lesson
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">The learning outcomes, skills, and content area objectives or standards the lesson will address
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">The steps of the lesson
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">How students will use digital storytelling in the lesson
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">The tools students will use to develop their digital stories
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">How you will customize the learning activity for diverse learners in your classroom
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">How you will incorporate a creative thinking component in the lesson
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">How student learning will be assessed as a result of this lesson
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">How you will manage this activity in your classroom

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Please refer to the course text for a GAME plan lesson template example. Sample lessons follow each of the content area chapters.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Suggested assignment length: 1–2 pages

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**For your Dropbox submission:**

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Save your Application with the filename **APP7+last name+your first initial.** For example, Sally Ride’s assignment filename would be "APP7RideS." Use the **Submit an Assignment** link, choose the **Week 7: Application** basket, and then attach your Word document.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**Important Note:** The **Content Area Unit Plan that you have created from Weeks 5 through 7** is the preselected assignment for the Demonstration of Content Knowledge (DCK) Major Assessment and must be submitted in __two__ places.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**STEPS**

> >
 * 1) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Upload your assignment to the Application Dropbox for your instructor to grade.
 * 1) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Once you have made any revisions based on instructor feedback, upload your assignment to your ePortfolio under the Transition Point Four, Major Assessment: “Demonstration of Content Knowledge.” **(Note: Although this Major Assessment is not due until the end of your program, you need to upload this assignment into the ePortfolio so that it is saved in advance and in a secure place. Directions** for uploading the pre-selected activity to your ePortfolio are located in your ePortfolio space. Log into your ePortfolio, click on “Demonstration of Content Knowledge” from the menu on the left, and then click the word, “Directions.”)
 * 1) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">In one of the Direction steps, you are directed to identify the specialization standards from a Target Set. The directions in your ePortfolio will guide you to the specific Target Set for your specialization. In the Target Set, find the standard that matches the standard(s) listed below. Tag that standard.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**Specialization Standards: International Society for Technology in Education**


 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**Standard 1b:** Teachers engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**Standard1d:** Teachers model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**Standard 2b:** Teachers develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">**Standard 2c:** Teachers customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources