During December, Mr. Roberge’s 7th grade science classes created presentations about cells. Each student or pair of students in a class was given one of many topics to research and asked to prepare a presentation on that part. They were taught how to create or locate exactly the right image and to understand and consider all copyright laws. They learned how to draw in Acorn, how to create motion and “builds” in Keynote (see link below), and how to write a script and record their voice over the project. Finally, the individual parts were saved as Quicktime movies and assembled in iMovie as a whole class project that covers all the aspects of the cell. This movie represents parts from across 5 classes, a good representation of what our kids created. It is not perfect, there are some mispronunciations and some technical glitches, but we are very proud of what they have accomplished.

There is a strong focus in the 7th grade curriculum on understanding copyright law and what individuals may and may not do with images, music, and information they do not own. Images for this project were either created by the students in Acorn or in Keynote, or they were found online with a Creative Commons license that allows students to use them in their projects. Another major focus on this project was to eliminate the use of unnecessary text-based information (referred to in educational circles as PowerPointlessness) on each slide, and to use the recording, the images with labels, and the ability to build in features and move visual elements to help the viewer understand the content. Students were also coached in and graded on pacing and inflection for their voice over, and although we feel it could still be better in some cases, we are very pleased with the gains most students made in understanding how to use their voice to enhance their project.

This project covered many standards in science, in language arts, and in technology.

Science:

A1. Students describe and apply principles of systems in man made things, natural things and processes.

a – explain how individual parts working together can do more than each individual part.

b – Explain how the output of one part becomes input of another.

E3

a- Describe the basic functions of organisms carried out within cells including the extracting of energy for food and the elimination of wastes.

d- Explain that all living things are composed of cells.

Language Arts

E2 Speaking

Adjust Speaking Strategies ( organize and present logically, adjust volume, tone, seek feedback, select appropriate media for audience)

C1 Research

Determine nature and extent of info needed

Locate and access info

Summarize and interpret information

Use information ethically and legally

Technology ( the National Educational Technology Standards for Students)

Creativity and Innovation

a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.

b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression.

Communication and Collaboration

a. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.

b. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.

Research and Information Fluency

b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.

c. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.

Critical Thinking

b. Plan and Manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project.

Digital Citizenship

a. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.

Technology Information and Concepts

b. select and use applications effectively and productively.

d. transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies.