PROJECT: HOUSE

(Helping Out Underprivileged Students Everywhere)

 

Title: PROJECT: HOUSE

Objectives: Students will…

  1. Collaborate with students from other classes and buildings
  2. Integrate core area concepts into their technology projects
  3. Create a multi-media slide show
  4. Film and produce a 20 second Public Service Announcement
  5. Produce either a Publisher brochure or a Word Flyer
  6. Write a “Final Reflection” Paper
  7. Make connections with the local community
  8. Begin to get a taste for service learning
  9. Participate in an authentic assessment

 

Subject: Technology Literacy

 

Intended Grade Level: 8

 

Description: Create Multi-media Power Point slide shows; use video equipment to produce 20 second Public Service Announcements

 

Narrative: This project is a multi-disciplinary project that allows students to learn about the power of multi-media PowerPoint presentations and about a local charitable organization (Habitat for Humanity.) The project contains several components (Slide Show, Brochure, PSA, Reflection Paper, Authentic Assessment Celebration, etc.)

 

METS: (Grade Level Expectations Grades 6-8)

 

1. Basic Operations and Concepts.

a. Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems.

 

b. Students are proficient in the use of technology. (2, 3, 8)

 

2. Social, Ethical and Human interests

c. Students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity. (3)

 

3. Technology productivity tools.

a. Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity. (1, 2, 3, 4)

 

b. Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works. (1)

 

4. Technology Communication Tools

b. Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences. (1)

 

5. Technology research tools

a. Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources. (1, 2)

 

c. Students evaluate and select new information resources and technological innovations based on the appropriateness to specific tasks. (1)

 

Resources/Materials/Hardware/Software:

Ø      Microsoft Power Point

Ø      Microsoft Publisher

Ø      Music CD’s/CD Rom

Ø      Digital Video Camera

Ø      Tripod

Ø      Microsoft Movie Maker

Ø      Headphones

Ø      Microsoft Word

Ø      LCD Projector

Ø      Large Screen

 

Detailed Timeline:

 

Week 1: Introduce project, research Habitat for Humanity, gather facts, and begin inserting facts into slide show

 

Week 2: Work on building slides, adding formatting, finding and saving photos, inserting photos

 

Week 3: Finish informational aspect of slide shows, finish adding photos, peruse music selections and pick a song

 

Week 4: Insert music, make editing changes, and time the music

 

Week 5: Show the final slide shows to the other participants begin Publisher brochure project, turn in hard copy rough draft of design layout

 

Week 6: Work on brochure or flyer, make final editing changes to the project

 

Week 7: Begin talking about Public Service Announcements, students write the Public Service Announcements, I talk about the “Seven Deadly Camera Sins” and the students begin filming.

 

Week 8: Finish filming, begin editing

 

Week 9: Write Final Reflection Paper, hold Authentic Assessment

 

 

Activities/Procedures:

This is a nine-week lesson with several components. The first part is the PowerPoint slide show. Students start out by researching Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org) and gathering facts about one specific topic about Habitat. Once they have the facts gathered (hand-written on the Fact Sheet), they can begin to put the information into the slides in PowerPoint. I spend some time showing students the slide layout section of Power Point. They can only use two specific slide layout designs (Title Only and Blank.)

 

After the students have the information in the slides, they gather photos that will enhance the message of their show. They save these photos in their S: DRIVE folder. They can then insert the photos into the appropriate slides.

 

Next, they will peruse the music selections I have placed on the S: DRIVE to find a song that will enhance the message of their show. They will use the headphones to listen to the songs and decide which one will work for their show. After they insert the music file, they will make sure that the music ends precisely when the slides end.

 

When students are done with their first draft of the slide show, I fill out a “Conference”, which lists edits and changes that students should make to make the slide show better. They have three to four days to make those changes before a final grade is assessed.

 

Once the slide shows are done, the students from other participating classes come to the Media Center for a public viewing of the shows. This allows other students to learn about Habitat for Humanity and hopefully inspires their efforts in their respective projects.

 

Next, I begin talking about the brochure project. I have the students produce a hard copy rough draft of the design of their brochure before they begin to work in Publisher.

 

After they have had enough time to finish the brochure, I go over the “Seven Deadly Camera Sins” slide show and talk about ways to avoid the pitfalls that people fall into when filming. We then begin the Public Service Announcement component of the project.

 

Once filming is done, students learn about capturing video from a camera to the computer using a fire wire cable. They also learn about importing video into Microsoft Movie Maker and about editing film clips to produce final PSA’s.

 

The last part of the project is to have the students write a five paragraph “Final Reflection” paper.

 

Teacher Preparation:

 

Make sure there are enough copies of the instructional guides that will be used. Make sure the camera batteries are fully charged.

 

Prerequisite Student Skills:

Students should know how to navigate the Network hierarchy. They should have basic knowledge of Power Point.

 

Assessment/Evaluation of slide show:

 

PROJECT HOUSE:
Helping Out Underprivileged Students Everywhere

Criteria

16-20

Excellent

12-15

Almost There

7-11

Needs Improvement

0-6

Poor

Your Score

Number of Slides

 

Had 25-30 slides

Had 20-24 slides

Had 15-19 slides

Less than 15 slides

 

Use of Music

Used music was thoughtfully selected to enhance the message of the slide show. Music was times correctly and appropriately. Music was cited at the end of the slide show.

Had music that was appropriate and timed well, but not perfectly. Music was cited at the end of the slide show.

Music was okay, but not timed well. Music was not cited at the end of the slide show.

Had no music or did have music but was not appropriate for the message of the slide show.

 

Use of Graphics (Photos)

Graphics and photos were appropriate and enhanced the message of the slide show.

Some graphics and photos were used and most were appropriate but some may not have been so.

Used graphics and photos, but they were either not placed well within the slide show or did not do anything to enhance the message.

Didn’t use graphics at all or very few used. If they were used, they were not appropriate to the message of the slide show.

 

Formatting Choices (background, font, etc.)  

The slide show was formatted nicely with contrasting colors used for both background and text. Formatting was consistent throughout the entire slide show. Text was easily readable. 

The formats chosen were good, but may not have been consistent throughout the slide show.

Formatting could have been better through the choice of background color and font colors chosen. Formatting not consistent.

Formatting was not done well. Colors of background and text were too similar and this made the text not easily readable.

 

Content (Information used)

The slide show showed thorough research had been done and the information used was powerful and accurate. 

Information used showed that facts had been gathered and most of it was powerful. Some information may not be accurate or may have been left out.

Information used showed that more research was necessary. 

Not enough information used. 

 

Spelling and Grammar

 

The slide show contained proper grammar throughout and had not mistakes. 

The slide show contained just a couple of spelling or grammar errors.

The slide show contained several spelling and grammar errors.

The slide show contained too many spelling and grammar errors to count.

 

Overall Effectiveness/

Quality

It was clear that the student put a lot of time and effort into creating the slide show. No spelling errors, formatting nicely done the slide show was both informational and inspirational.

The slide show was well done and showed effort was made to make it both informational and inspirational. There were some errors and formatting choices might have made the show better.

The slide show showed some effort, but because of errors or formatting choices or not enough information, it could have been better.

The overall slide show showed that the student didn’t put much effort into creating an informational and inspirational show.

 

Total

 

____/140

 

 

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