C&I 335 Computer-Assisted Instruction
Activity 5: Critically Reading the Web Marty Sierra-Perry
 

                                             What happened on your birthdate?

•                 An Introduction to Research

Objectives:

• Students will learn to access their folders and save assignments.
• Students will learn to use the Internet to search for specific information.
• Students will learn to evaluate information whether it comes from books, periodicals, or from Internet using the following criteria: authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage.
• Students will learn to use PowerPoint to present their findings.

State Standards:
Applications of Learning:Through Applications of Learning, students demonstrate and deepen their understanding of basic knowledge and skills. These applied learning skills cross academic disciplines and reinforce the important learning of the disciplines. The ability to use these skills will greatly influence students' success in school, in the workplace and in the community.

The Applications for Learning are:

1. Solving problems
2. Express and interpret information and ideas
3. Using Technology
4. Working on Teams
5. Making Connections

In this unit you will learn:
    -  How to prepare a "Works cited" page
    -  How to summarize an article
    -  How to compare the ideas in two sources
    -  How to use resources on the internet
    -  How to create a PowerPoint presentation to showcase your birthday research
 

Directions:
During this activity you will be able to work with technology to search for ten (10) significant events that occurrred on the same date of your birth. One of the ten should have taken place before 1900.

First: Discover where resource materials are in the media center which can help you with this project.  We will visit the library as a class and determine what resources will help you with this project.

Second: Identify TEN (10) events which happened on your birthday ( NOT ALL the SAME YEAR).  At least one of the events must have happened before 1900. Use the resources in the library to find these items. Describe each event and indicate where you locted the information.

Third: Select ONE (1) of the ten events to be your "main" event.  For this event conduct further research. Locate five (5) sources. Be sure to write down where your information comes from so that your works cited page will accurately reflect your search.

Fourth: Select two of the sources and compare them using the criteria listed in the objectives. Try to have a variety of sources.

Fifth: Note the type of information each of the two sources that you are comparing has.Was point of view important? Which aritcle was more valuable to you in your research? Which presented the information more coherently?

Sixth: Gather as much information as possible about your chosen event. Discover WHAT happened, WHY, WHERE, HOW, and TO WHOM.  Make notes. We will write in class about your event.  You will use your notes to create a Power Point presentation to inform us of other reasons YOUR birthday is very special!

PowerPoint Layout: This is a suggested ten-slide format for the PowerPoint presentation.

PowerPoint Assessment Rubric: The criteria used to evaluate your PowerPoint presentation.