Budget+Cuts

Budget Cuts: A Problems Based Research Project Joel Menking Walden University

Dr. Larcara Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas EDUC-6713D-1 October 9, 2011 **Daily Lesson GAME Plan ** **Part 1 **


 * Lesson Title: ** Budget Cuts: Researching Money Saving Techniques and Writing an Informative Essay
 * Grade Level: ** 9th Grade English
 * Unit: ** Research/Expository Writing
 * Related Lessons: **Informative Writing, Analyzing Data, Internet Research, MLA Formatting

**Goals ** Students determine, locate, and explore the full range of relevant sources addressing a research question and systematically record the information they gather. Students are expected to: (A) Follow the research plan to compile data from authoritative sources in a manner that identifies the major issues and debates within the field of inquiry; (B) Organize information gathered from multiple sources to create a variety of graphics and forms (e.g., notes, learning logs); and (C) Paraphrase, summarize, quote, and accurately cite all researched information according to a standard format (e.g., author, title, page number). (TEA, 2001).
 * Course Standards: **

3. Research and Information fluency 4. Critical Thinking, problem solving, and decision making 5. Digital Citizenship 6. Technology operations and concepts
 * ISTE NET-S: **


 * Instructional Objectives: **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Students will research methods used by school districts to cut spending, analyze their data, and write an informative essay with appropriate data, purpose, and audience.

**<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Action **
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Before-Class Preparation: **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">I will search the internet for websites that can be used as resources by my students. This lesson will require them to find examples of budget cutting strategies suggested, talked about, and used by school districts across the state of Texas. I will also search my school districts data base and board meeting notes for information on our own districts budget cutting methods.


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">During Class: **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">I will put before my students problem that all school districts across the country are facing, budget cuts. We will review the severity of budget deficits in our own district, as well as others in our city and state. Most importantly, we will discuss how the budget deficit will affect their education. They will not be faced with the task of researching the methods different school districts have suggested, talked about, and implemented in order to cut spending. Students will be working in groups of three.


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Technology (Day 1): **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Students will use the internet as a research tool and Word Processor to collect, store, and organize their data.


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Diverse Learners: **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> For my diverse learners, I will modify their research process by providing links to user friendly resources, extended time, and one-on-one instruction. I will also create the groups with student academic levels in mind. My students with diverse needs will be grouped with capable students who are willing to help others in their group.


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Assessment: **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I will assess my students by observation and reading the information they collect to make sure they are gathering accurate, relevant data. Further assessment will be applied to their analysis of data and written expression, in the form of an informative expository essay and digital storyboard.

**<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Daily Lesson GAME Plan **

**<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Part 2 **


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lesson Title: **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Budget Cuts: Researching Money Saving Techniques and Writing an Informative Essay


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Grade Level: **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 9th Grade English


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Unit: **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Research/Expository Writing/ Online Collaboration


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Related Lessons: **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Informative Writing, Analyzing Data, Internet Research, Online Collaboration, MLA Formatting


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Course Standards: **


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Listening and Speaking/Teamwork. Students work productively with others in teams. Students will continue to apply earlier standards with greater complexity. Students are expected to participate productively in teams, building on the ideas of others, contributing relevant information, developing a plan for consensus-building, and setting ground rules for decision-making (TEA, 2011).


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISTE NET-S: **

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. Research and Information fluency

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">4. Critical Thinking, problem solving, and decision making

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">5. Digital Citizenship

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">6. Technology operations and concepts


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Instructional Objectives: **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Students will use online collaboration to discuss, analyze, and modify their research ideas.

**<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Action **


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Before-Class Preparation: **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Before implementing this portion of the lesson, I will create a Wiki for my class. My students will all create their pages within this Wiki.


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">During Class: **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">First, I will teach my students about online collaboration and review the conepts of digital citizenship. Second, I will show them the classroom Wiki page and how to create pages, post information, and leave comments. On this page they will post their ideas, along with an appropriate amount of support. Each group will then review ideas posted by at least two other groups and respond in the following ways.


 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. Positive comments regarding the possible success of budget cutting ideas.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. Constructive criticism and the possible failure of budget cutting ideas.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. Questions/Concerns about the budget cutting ideas.


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Technology (Part 2): **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Students will use the wikispaces.com to create an online collaboration. This will take place in the computer lab.


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Diverse Learners: **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> For my diverse learners, I will offer one-on-one instruction and extended time. These students will also be placed in groups with capable students.


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Assessment: **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I will assess my students by observation and reviewing each of the wiki pages created, both original content and comments made on other pages. Each group will be assessed on the quality of the content, the creativity of their ideas, and effectiveness of their peer collaboration. Further assessment will be used on their final synthesis projects.

<span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hello, Joel!

<span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">I am jealous of your plan to start wikis with your class for it is something I plan on doing down the road, but haven't mustered up the courage to do just yet. We are first going to tackle social networking through schoology.com and then branch out to digital storytelling. I figure after both of those endeavors, we will be more than ready for wikis. Your willingness to do this now gives me hope!:)

<span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Erin