Tour de FMMS

The days' activities will always begin with associated warm up and closure activities (review questions and discussions, brainteasers, words for thought, etc.).

Instructor will (in preparation):

• Find examples of online tours (if not schools, apartments and homes) to show students as examples
• Meet with the school librarian or media center teacher to find school site resources that support students' research.
• Meet with the school Webmaster to schedule posting of student work on the school Web page

Guided Practice

Teacher and students will:

• Review surveying techniques and compile a list of good survey questions.
• Individually decide which aspects of the school are best for the website and compile a classroom list.
• Review camera capabilities and best lighting conditions for using the camera.
• Interview administrators and various staff members for quotes to use in the tour.
• Break into groups (camera number will determine group size)

In these groups, students officially decide on the topics of focus to include in their videos. Students are encouraged to choose the topics of higher interest and/or strength-based categories as shown in the surveys. In the same regard, they should also be allowed to suggest and incorporate their own topics. The more common topics are listed below but the video is not limited to:

• The administration
• The make up of students in the school
• Classes available for students
• Daily routines/schedules
• Student involved activities (including spirit activities)
• School Mascot


Independent Practice

Students will:

• Conduct research, using several surveying techniques, among peers, parents, school teachers and administrators (The questions should ask what people are interested in seeing or what they expect to find when they look at/for a school).
• Gather and synthesize the information.
• Collaborate with peers to compare, contrast, and analyze their research.
• Use a variety of technological tools to observe, record, videotape, and photograph various aspects of Fort Mill Middle School.
• Upload images into MovieMaker (or other video editing software) to edit and enhance their images.
• Upload images onto a Web page (using Front Page XP or other available software).
• Give a class presentation about their research and their movie that is on the Internet (the steps they went through, their findings, their finished product, etc).

Assessment:

An example of a rubric for the presentation portion of the project can be found at:

http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index

Rubric ID # is: 1468504