1. Developing Technology-Infused Interdisciplinary Thematic Units Bonita Williams Rita Mitchell Paulina Kuforiji Illinois State University Columbus State University Normal, Illinois Columbus, Georgia http://racc.colstate.edu/

2. Introduction Georgia Performance Standards Structure of Thematic Units Technology and High Level Thinking Skills Twenty-first Century Instructional Tools Overview of “It Takes A Village Thematic Units” Questions and Answers Table of Contents http://racc.colstate.ed u/

3. Introduction Who am I as a teacher? Who am I as a learner? Developing Technology-Infused Interdisciplinary Thematic Units http://racc.colstate.edu/

4. 1956 50 Years of Progress 2006 Dr. Kildare 2006 Medical Doctor

5. 1956 50 Years of Progress 2006 Perry Mason2006 Lawyers

6. 1956 50 Years of Progress 2006 Business Tycoon 2006 Business Tycoon

7. 1956 50 Years of Progress 2006 A Teacher in the 50sA Teacher in year 2006

8. Are we preparing them for this age, 50 Years of Progress …or for 2006 and beyond?

9. Georgia Performance Standards Student Learning Focus Process as well as Product Assessment More In-depth consideration of content Less Repetition Inter-related Units of Study Developing Technology-Infused Interdisciplinary Thematic Units http://racc.colstate.edu/

10. Structure of Thematic Units Standards Student Interest and Engagement Variety of Instructional Methods and Materials Flexibility and accommodations to include all students Clearly Identify Assessment Goals Student assessment and reflection Developing Technology-Infused Interdisciplinary Thematic Units http://racc.colstate.edu/

11. Technology and High Level Thinking Skills Reflective and reasonable thinking that is focused on deciding what to believe or do (Robert Ennis, quoted in Presseisen, p. 24) The process of determining the authenticity, accuracy and worth of information or knowledge claims (Beyer 1985, p. 276). Developing Technology-Infused Interdisciplinary Thematic Units

12. Technology and High Level Thinking Skills Higher Level Thinking Skills Use technology to solve complex problems alone or collaboratively Develop challenging, creative, and innovative projects Evaluate validity of information Inspiration to create multimedia presentations, diagrams, charts, books, and concept maps to present their research, thinking, and their understanding of new concepts. Use technology resources (e.g., puzzles, logical thinking programs Developing Technology-Infused Interdisciplinary Thematic Units http://www.alice.org

13. Overview of “It Takes A Village Thematic Units” This African proverb has been quoted often by politicians and educators to express the inclusive and expansive role of different stakeholders in the education of children and youth. Far less often, however, are other values and beliefs of African people quoted or studied in mainstream American education. This curriculum project examines a series of events in American and African history that reflect values and beliefs about personal and corporate freedom, collaborative work, and inter- racial relationships. Africa and individuals claiming them as property. Developing Technology-Infused Interdisciplinary Thematic Units

14. Grade 1: Amistad Heroes Grade 3/4: Our Democratic Heritage: Values and Beliefs About Freedom Grade 7: World Cultures: Africa- The Mende of Sierra Leone Each of the three modules contains: An instructional alignment with the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) Background resources for teachers that can be adapted for student use Student learning and assessment activities Overview of “It Takes A Village” Thematic Units http://racc.colstate.edu/

15. Grade 1: Amistad Heroes Students will: Read about and describe the life of American historical figures (SS1H1); Describe the cultural and geographic systems associated with historical figures (SS1G1); Us a variety of strategies to understand and gain meaning from grade level texts (ELA1R6); Begin to demonstrate competency in writing process (ELA1W1); Use oral and visual strategies to communicate (ELA1LSV1) Overview of “It Takes A Village” Thematic Units http://racc.colstate.edu/

16. Grade 3/4: Our Democratic Heritage: Values and Beliefs About Freedom Students will: Use research and technology to support writing (ELA4W3) Read and comprehend texts from a variety of genres (ELA4R1) Communicate effectively with different audiences (ELA4LSV 1 and 2) Discuss lives of Americans who expanded people’s rights and freedom in a democracy (SS3H2) Explain the challenges of the abolitionists movement (SS4H7) Overview of “It Takes A Village” Thematic Units http://racc.colstate.edu /

17. Grade 7: World Cultures: Africa- The Mende of Sierra Leone Students will: Use research and technology to support writing (ELA7W3) Consistently use writing process to develop, revise, and evaluate writing (ELA 7W4) Demonstrate understanding and control of the rules of English language (ELA 7C1) Participate in student-teacher, student-student, and group verbal interaction (ELA7LSV1) Establishes a context for information acquired by reading across subject areas (ELA7RC4) Overview of “It Takes A Village” Thematic Units http://racc.colstate.edu/

18. Grade 7: World Cultures: Africa- The Mende of Sierra Leone (cont’d) Students will: Explain reasons for African Independence Movement (SS7H2) Describe and locate physical and human characteristics of Africa (SS7G1) Explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, natural resources, and population size of African countries Overview of “It Takes A Village” Thematic Units http://racc.colstate.edu/

19. Questions and Answers Developing Technology-Infused Interdisciplinary Thematic Units http://racc.colstate.edu/

20. http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sirs/6/cu11.html References