Online Projects, Collaboration Sites, and Publishing Opportunities

Name: Maria Carrillo

Grade Level: Second Grade
Content Area: Life Science
Standards Addressed: S2L1. Students will investigate the life cycles of different living organisms.

Title of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity:

Bugscope
URL of Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity:
http://bugscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/
Describe how you would use the Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing
Opportunity in your classroom: Students will about different insects to learn about their life
cycle and characteristics. The students will send the specimens to the scientists at University of
Illinois Beckman Institute. The students will view their bugs on a microscope through an online
session the teacher schedules with the scientists. This activity would help the students learn
more about the life cycle of the bugs and see the comparison between the insects. After learning
about their insects, the students will create the life cycle of any organism and comparing the
organisms life cycle to another life cycle. The teacher will publish the life cycles on the classroom
blog.

What technologies would be required to implement this proposed learning activity in a

classroom? The teacher will need a computer, projector, and an internet connection to schedule
the online session with the scientists at the University of Illinois Beckman Institute. The teacher
will also need a blog to post the students creations online.
Describe how the following features are addressed in this learning experience (note: all of
them may not be addressed in the project, but most should be if you are reaching a high
LoTi Level.):
a. Collaboration with peers, near-peers, mentors outside their classroom and often
beyond their school: The students will gather insects and mail them to the
scientists at University of Illinois Beckman Institute. The students will learn about
the insects with the help of the scientists.

b. Student-centered learning and knowledge creation (collecting original data and or

producing original products as a result of engaging in the project): The students
will collect specimens and learn about the characteristics and life cycles of the
insects and the students will then create a life cycle of any life organism.

c. Higher-order thinking: The students will think about the comparisons and
differences between the life cycles of organisms.

d. Students publishing their original work to others who will use/care about their
product: The students life cycles will be published on the classroom for their
parents and peers to see.

1
Blooms Level of Critical Thinking Required (check all that apply):
See http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Bloom%27s_Taxonomy
Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating Creating
What Level of Technology Implementation best describes this learning activity and Why? I
believe this learning activity is a level 5 because the students are collaborating with scientists
outside their classrooms. The students are collecting bugs and sending to the scientists for them
to look over. Also, the students will create a life cycle of an organism of their choosing. The
projects will be displayed on the classroom blog.
How could you implement this proposed learning experience and still comply with your
districts Internet Safety and Student Privacy policies? I believe that this learning experience
can comply with the districts Internet Safety and Students Privacy policies if the district,
administration, and parents gives the teacher the permission to proceed. Also, the teacher
should not share any student information with the public. If the learning experience complies
with the policies, then the activity can be an authentic experience.