Example Technology Performance Assessment Task

 

 

Performance Task # 3

Newsletter

Grade:

4

Content Area(s) Integrated:

Social Studies

Unit Title/Theme:

Vermont Studies

Task Developer/Author:

Christina Smith

 

1.  Setting the Context

 

This task will be completed toward the end of the 6-week unit on Vermont Studies.  Students will read and be read aloud several books that tell Vermont stories.  A variety of activities and projects will be completed in small groups and individually that will give students practice in online research, emailing and newsletter design.     

 

 

2. Grade Expectations

 

Technology


IT1 - Basic Operations & Concepts
Using removable media (e.g., floppy disk, CD, DVD)

·        Launching a program from the desktop using a shortcut or alias.

·        Using effective keyboarding:

o       posture (i.e., back straight, body leaning slightly forward, etc.

o       techniques (e.g., eyes on monitor or copy-not the keyboard, etc)

o       attitudes (e.g., willingness to change habits, persistence and diligence)

Using digital tools to capture images (e.g., scanner, digital camera)

IT2 - Social, Ethical & Human Issues

Documenting sources of information obtained through electronic resources (e.g., identifying author and URL).

 

IT3 - Productivity Tools
Combining text with pictures on a single page (e.g., inserting clipart).

 

IT4 - Communication             

·        Sending an email message to another local user.

·        Sending an email message to a remote user (i.e., using address with @).

 

IT5 - Research, Problem Solving & Decision Making

·        Accessing information from a workstation, LAN or Internet-based electronic encyclopedia.

·        Preparing a search off-line using a teacher-prepared form/strategy.

·        Using a search engine predetermined by the teacher, implementing the search strategy developed and locating pertinent information.

·        Identifying decisions made, (e.g. representing data, formatting, criteria for search, visual organizer)

Example:  What key words did you use in your internet search?

 

Content

 

H&SS3-4 Students conduct research by

·        Referring to and following a plan for an inquiry.

·        Locating relevant materials such as print, electronic and human resources

·        Citing sources

H&SS 3-4:8 Students connect the past with the present by…

·        Describing ways that life in the community and Vermont (Historical Site) has both changed and stayed the same over time

 

 

3. The Performance Task

Students will conduct research on Vermont historical sites and discover what knowledge a traveler would expect to learn during a visit to the site. 

 

Goal(s):  Research Vermont historical sites to connect the past with the present and share findings in a newsletter


Role:  The role of the students is researcher and designer.

Audience:  Friends, family and teacher.  A secondary audience will be people who visit the various sites themselves, as copies of the newsletters will be shared with the sites.

Situation: The Vermont Historical society has had a devastating fire.  They are in the process of recreating documents that advertise their historical sites.  You have been asked to help them out by putting together a newsletter that encourages families to spend some time together and learn about Vermont history.  You have been asked to design a one-page newsletter to advertise one historical site in Vermont. Your newsletter will include a map, directions, costs as well as historical information

 

Product/Performance:  One page newsletter

 

4. Activities

Research

·        Students will select a Vermont historical site from the many choices that have been discussed and gathered in previous lessons.  Students will conduct an initial search on an internet-based encyclopedia.   Students will prepare a search off-line by making a list of key words that will be researched on line.  Students will use a search engine predetermined by teacher like Yahooligans.  Students will fill out the research worksheet and cite the website and author for each entry.

·        Students will list additional questions they have.  They will design an email letter to the historical site telling what they are doing, asking questions and permission to use pictures and maps in their newsletter.

·        Students will lists ways the historical site has changed or stayed the same over time.

Designing

·        Using effective keyboarding students will compose a draft of the text that will be used in the newsletter.  They will use information from the research worksheet, email letters, lists and graphics.

·        Students will scan graphics to be imported into the newsletter.

·        Students will launch the appropriate program and use the newsletter template to insert text and graphics making sure sources are cited.

·        Students will print and share with friends, family and the people who work at and visit the historical site.

5. Materials and Resources

List of historical sites and email addresses

Scanner

On line Encyclopedia

Printer

Computer lab

Research worksheet

Email letters to historical sites

Newsletter template




6. Criteria/Rubric

Grade Expectation

Introduced

With Assistance

Met the Standard

Basic Operations

Using removable media (e.g., floppy disk, CD, DVD)

 

 

 

Launching a program from the desktop using a shortcut or alias.

 

 

 

Using effective keyboarding:

·         posture (i.e., back straight, body leaning slightly forward, etc.

·         techniques (e.g., eyes on monitor or copy-not the keyboard, etc)

·         attitudes (e.g., willingness to change habits, persistence and diligence)

 

 

 

Using digital tools to capture images (e.g., scanner, digital camera)

 

 

 

Social, Ethical & Human Issues

Documenting sources of information obtained through electronic resources (e.g., identifying author and URL).

 

 

 

Productivity Tools

Combining text with pictures on a single page (e.g., inserting clipart).

 

 

 

Communication

Sending an email message to another local user.

 

 

 

Sending an email message to a remote user (i.e., using address with @).

 

 

 

Research, Problem Solving & Decision Making

Accessing information from a workstation, LAN or Internet-based electronic encyclopedia.

 

 

 

Preparing a search off-line using a teacher-prepared form/strategy.

 

 

 

Using a search engine predetermined by the teacher, implementing the search strategy developed and locating pertinent information.

 

 

 

 

Identifying decisions made, (e.g. representing data, formatting, criteria for search, visual organizer)

 

 

 

History and Social Science

Grade Expectation

Introduced

With Assistance

Met the Standard

Conduct research

·         Referring to and following a plan for an inquiry.

 

 

 

 

·         Locating relevant materials such as print, electronic and human resources.

 

 

 

·         Citing sources.

 

 

 

Connect to past with the present

 

·         Describe ways that life in the community and Vermont has changed and stayed the save over time.