Kelly's+Safety+Lesson+Plan


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Teacher **: Miss Cave
 * Course **: Research Writing
 * Grade **: 9th
 * Unit **: SPCA Community and Research Project

Objective **: The objective for this project is to tie together community efforts (fundraising) with course content. The students will research information on the SPCA, as well as several of the key animals in need, campaign for funds from fellow students and the community, and build a class wiki highlighting their research findings and fundraising results. The students will be taught how to safely and responsibly conduct research and post their findings.
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Technology Used: ** For this project, the students will use wikis. The technology will be used by the students, as they are placed in small groups and assigned a research topic. Once they finish their research, they are to build a page off of the class wiki highlighting their findings in proper MLA format. They must collaborate via the discussion piece, and they MUST, as a group, visit the other groups’ pages and comment upon their success.
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Expected Behavior: **

As with all projects completed in the Research Writing classroom, the students are expected to follow the student handbook in terms of the acceptable Internet use policy and proper student behavior, which outlines conduct for: proper language, content, and respect towards others. No foul language, inappropriate content or themes will be permitted. In addition, the students will be expected to respect the thoughts and ideas of others and be open to what other students have to say. In terms of group involvement, each student in the group is expected to pull his/her weight. At the end of the group experience, each student will fill out a self-assessment, and they will also fill out an assessment on the other members of the group. In addition to receiving a group grade, each student will also receive an individual grade based upon his/her commitment and effort during the entire process.

<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
 * Lesson Plan Process:**

//Assess their Prior Knowledge://
 * See if any students are familiar with cyber-bullying and other issues that have come about due to these new technologies.
 * Spark a conversation about what the students would do if they found themselves in such a situation.
 * Conduct a quick mini-lesson on "//how searchable are you"// using myself, the teacher to demonstrate that once their name is placed on the internet, they become much easier to spot. It is for this reason that their last names will NOT be used, rather, they will be given a group name instead.
 * Remind them what they have been taught from the beginning of the year in terms of safety online. Remind them that they will need to employ the same techniques while conducting research for this next project.

//Demonstration://
 * In order for the students to see how easily information can be changed on a wiki, we will take a look at Wikipedia, focusing on a few examples of how ANYONE (including their teacher) can be at risk.
 * Explain to them that when they create their wiki, they cannot edit other students' work without permission.
 * Also explain that since other classes will be learning from their wikis, it is important that they ensure that correct and updated information is used at all times. They must remember the tools they learned for finding and evaluating sources, verifying content, and giving proper credit.

//Begin the Research/Community Project//
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Provide an overview of the project by reviewing the assignment sheet with the students.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Share the local SPCA's wish list
 * //<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Hand out permission slip //<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">—students must take this home and have it signed by their parent/guardian for tomorrow’s class.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Parents will also be encouraged to check out the Rules for the Social Web ([|policy1.pdf]), which is posted on the class website.
 * //<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Hand out student contract //<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">—this contract outlines my expectations of the students as they work in a group setting on creating a group wiki. This will be signed and kept on file in the event that a student violates any of the guidelines. Discipline procedures are also highlighted on this contract.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Have the students go online and complete the group strength/weaknesses survey. Once they find their particular strengths and weaknesses, they are to write a brief summary and pinpoint how they plan to either use this to their group’s advantage, or work on this in order to improve.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Have each group choose their group leader and assign specific roles to each member. Have them create their group name. Remind them that this group name will be used in conjunction with their first name....last names will NOT be used.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Have each group choose their specific topic and begin conducting initial research.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Spend a few days compiling research, paraphrasing and citing material.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Begin to construct the group wiki.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Create a podcast for a public service announcement on the needs of the SPCA. (optional: students may also use the class video camera to create a quick commercial on the SPCA’s current situation and what others can do to help). These alternate forms of technology will be linked to the group wiki.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Present the wiki to the class and share the podcast/video. The best podcast and best video will be broadcast across the school in the morning, highlighting for other students the need for assistance to the SPCA.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Complete the self-assessment and group assessment sheets and hand in.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Launch the district-wide fundraiser. Group will be responsible for creating posters, hanging them in the building, going out into the community and soliciting donations. The group that gets the most donations will win a prize.

** <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">If anything inappropriate is submitted or if the students act inappropriately, I will immediately reflect upon the student contract that each student signed and submitted. Since the consequences were clearly outlined on this contract, there should be no surprise as to what happens next. Depending on the severity of the situation, the student(s) in question may lose privileges for at least one week, if not longer. Parents/guardians will be contacted, and a referral will be written up and submitted to the principal.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">If students submit inappropriate content or display inappropriate conduct…

** <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In a previous unit, the students were taught how to evaluate sources to determine if a source in question is trustworthy. The students know by now that if they find an inappropriate source, they are to let me know immediately (for blocking purposes in the future). In addition, they know NOT to use that source, and to continue searching for more quality resources.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">If students find inappropriate content while conducting research…

** <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In the event that a group has posted inappropriate content, chances are I will find it before other students will. However, if this does occur, the students will be told to see me immediately with the information they found, and it will be handled accordingly.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">If students find inappropriate content while looking at other groups’ wikis…

Permission Slip for Project