Digital Student Portfolios

Since this is a year-long project, there will be multiple lessons. Furthermore, lessons will be implemented in all content areas within the Freshman class. As an example, the following lesson is for digital book trailers....

Students choose an independent reading text for the 1st English I unit (2 students per group). Following a detailed rubric, students will pair up and collect information and use critical thinking skills to respond to their chosen text. Some outside research for historical and/or social context will be needed as well. Students will create an original trailer for their book (just like a movie trailer) where they choose the most important information, present the running themes, add music and digital images as well as implement sections of acting through dialogue and blocking following the rubric specifics.

Steps:
1. Introduction of project and review of rubric
2. Choice of partner and independent reading text from library (based upon Lexile level and chosen genre)
3. Reading schedule created for partners
4. Running questions, essays, annotations, theme analyses, and historical/social research students must complete while reading the text (which will help them create their trailers at the end of the project).
5. Assignment of digital cameras and tablets to each pair
6. Students choose most important information from text and follow the rubric provided
7. Students plan trailer using digital story board program
8. Students write film scene scripts
9. Students perform and videotape scenes for trailer
10. Students choose music to accompany trailer
11. Students choose digital images for trailer
12. Students use movie maker to put together trailers (following story board/rubric)
13. Students edit and finalize trailer
14. Students present trailer to class with a final goal of prompting other students to read the independent text