Information Media Graduate Credit Projects
Requirements and Scoring Rubric

Project Option 1 - Action Research

Description

Instruct a lesson using 21st Century information resources and strategies. Your response to the items below will typically result in a paper of four to eight pages, including the examples.

Note that you may complete this as a part of your regular instruction with students OR as professional development that you provide to other educators.

The goal of this project is that you help improve teaching and learning by sharing what YOU have learned with others.

• Briefly describe your instructional goals and strategy, with emphasis on how you will change the way you teach this content through use of technology employing at least one 21st Century resource or skill (60% of total project score).
• Create an assessment for the students of your lesson. Allowing the students two or more alternative ways of demonstrating their competency is highly encourages (such as allowing students to take a quiz, draw a picture, or write a paragraph), but not required. (40% of total project score).

Rubric

• Specific learning standards or objectives of the lesson
• State, national or professional standards listed (written out) - 10 points
• Brief narrative as to WHY the net methods/resource will improve the lesson - 30 points
• Including references is encouraged, but not required
• Lesson agenda/teaching guide including copies of handouts, PowerPoints, etc. as if prepared for a substitute teachers/presenter - 20 points.
• Provide a copy of the actual assessments(s) you used with your students, including a summary of actual results (please do not show actual student names) - 40 points
• Bonus: 10 points for TWO research citations in APA format.

Project Option 2 - Comparison of Technology Tools and Resources

Description

Select two different (yet similar) resources, teaching strategies, or technology tools appropriate for a particular learning objective. Determine which appears to be the better option for your instructional use. For example, compare two different video streaming services or two different online information resources. Your comparison will typically result in a paper four to eight pages in length, including the examples requested below.

The goal of this project option is for you to evaluate to similar resources that you may, at some point, actually use to help improve teaching and learning.

• Relate the tool to 21st Century teaching, learning and/or life skills (10% of total score).
• Compare key features, considering instructional/content issues, design for use by all learners, as well as cost and ease of use (40% of total score).
• Personally use both versions of that technology. It is encouraged, but not required that students be engaged in this exploration. Provide a brief description of the results of this technology use, analyzing, comparing, and contrasting the ease of use, appropriateness, etc. of each technology (50% of total score).

Rubric

• Describe how you expect this technology to improve teaching and learning. Include your comments as to how this online resource, technology tool or teaching strategy relates to 21st Century skills as collaboration, communication, and/or interactive learning experiences. - 10 points
• 10 points for each of the four features of the resource which you compare. - 40 points total
  A table or two-column format may be helpful (but not requried), or list (as below).
• Example:
  Feature 1
  "Easyway has a hand-held wireless radio-control option that does XYZ." This remote costs more, but allows operation from any place in the room. The device is comfortable for a teacher to hold, but too large for some children.
  "Smarterway uses a light-activated remote included with does XYZZ." This remote costs less, but must be used within ten feet of the computer. This remote is very difficult to see numbers on, but a good size for children.
• Summarize the results of comparison in a sentence or two, each feature used, "Did it work?," which (if either) would you use for instruction, and why. Be specific for EACH of the four features compared. - 40 points total
• Provide sample outputs of the technology as YOU used/created them such as photos, screen printouts, short video or audio excerpts, or similar. - 10 points total
• 10 Point Bonus: 10 points for TWO research citations in APA format.

Project Option 3 - Individually Designed Project

Description

Begin by sending a BRIEF proposal where you specify a need, a measurable outcome, and develop an instruction process that utilizes one or more 21st Century Tools (2 pages MAXIMUM length).

Once approved, your project rubric will total 100 points using evaluation criteria that you and your project facilitator jointly develop.