IIM & PBL @ WB
Aligning & Designing Successful Research Projects
IIM Overview
- What are the steps in the IIM process?
- How is it used for differentiation and to meet required standards?
- What does it look like in K-5 classrooms?
Essential & Guiding Questions
- Choose a unit of study that is connected to grade-level curriculum.
- Convert standard unit you are required to teach into research unit with already defined learning outcomes to develop essential and guiding questions around major concepts to be learned.
- Use unit planning form to set stage, identify resource materials, lessons & activities, and target key content and skills
- Guiding questions are standards-based and frame study to ensure unit avoids becoming a series of activities
Essential Questions
Structure Learning with Essential Questions (via Teachingchannel.org)
Essential Questions (via Scholastic.com)
What is an essential question? (via Grant Wiggins)
Immersion [Pre-Research]
Spark curiosity & build engagement with immersion activities (books, videos, field trips, models or experiments)
Virtual Field Trips
Google Street View Treks (Great Barrier Reef Ex.) & Google Earth Showcase
Google Treks
Just one example--Galapagos Islands
myOn.com
(currently FREE through TCEA)
Newsela
Developing Student Questions
Enthusiasm and personal interests are a big part of learning!
- Distinguishing between Thick & Thin Questions
- Cultivating Keen Observers: See-Think-Wonder
- I wonder.... Responding to Non-Fiction
- Thinkmarks for Asking Questions
Brainstorm Questions:
Topics & Goal-Setting
There are many sticky-note and mind-mapping tools available online that provide a platform for individual or collaborative brainstorming, color-coding, connecting and categorizing ideas, and making revisions over time.
Post a questions or new facts & knowledge about IIM on session Padlet (link).
(password protected--letmein)
Note-Taking & Organizing
Try Kid-friendly Search Tools & Read-Write-Think: Research Interactives
Note-taking Tools:
•Quicklyst Organize, save and search notes with just a username and password—no account registration.
•Titanpad: Online document notepads for shared and collaborative writing with each author typing in a different color. No logins and will autosave.
•Scrumblr - A simple easy to use site for brainstorming or organizing color coded notes.
bubble.us
scrumblr
popplet
Goal Setting & Evaluation
Add an outward dimension to reflection and evaluation by using a variety of digital formats…
- Googleforms: Students can submit reflections and research goal evaluations electronically. Students can also self-assess and quick-share their progress at designated points (What did you learn today? What new questions might you explore?) Forms can also be embedded or linked to a wiki or website.
- Use Blogs as a learning log for reflection on process and product. [kidblog.org or weebly.com] Weebly is also a user-friendly drag & drop website creator for building a research launch point for students.
Writing (R.A.F.T)
- RWT: Using the RAFT writing strategy
- RAFT Overview (via Dare to Differentiate)
- RAFT graphic organizer (via The First Grade Diaries)
- RAFT Assignment Examples
Product & Presentation
VoiceThread
[Student EX]
Technology tools provide opportunities for differentiation, personalization, and flexibility in product creation and presentation. Students can choose from a range of presentation and storytelling platforms to represent their research and share online with diverse audiences. Expression styles may combine text, hyperlinks, images, video, and audio together. With teacher guidance, can choose from a menu of options that connect to identified standards and written expression.
A few more possibilities to consider...
- Digital Project Blog Post: Kidblog + EX
- Comics & Cartoons: ToonDoo
- Interactive Timeline: Timetoast + EX
- Stories: Kerpoof Studio & Little Bird Tales + EX
Contact Me:
Email: eeastman@houstonisd.org
Website: http://www.edtechreflections.com/
Location: 10620 Briar Forest Drive, Houston, TX, United States
Phone: 713-917-3540
Twitter: @elizbtheastman