Prerequisite skills
This is a basic lesson. Students will be introduced to fundamental concepts and technology skills. There are no prerequisite skills required. However, teachers should be aware and confident in the use of computer terminology and understanding a hypermedia presentation application like Hyperstudio.
Hyperstudo has a comprehensive and user friendly website if you are interested in learning more about this application.
Materials Needed
Presentation materials: globe or map, television with computer set-up (optional)
Art materials:
Preliminary sketches: pencil, 8" x 10" white paper, markers
Reference collage and concept map: 2 poster boards, glue, paint (optional)
Computer materials:
One computer - Multiple computers (I used three computers)
Computers should meet system requirements for hypermedia application/version to be used. (Minimum 64 mgs RAM)
Hypermedia software: Hyperstudio (for each computer or site license)
Color Printer: (Optional) If you decide to create a reference collage or print student work, you will need a color printer.
Procedures:
1. Generate discussion with students about America.
- What is an American? America?
- What does it mean to be an American?
- Where is America on the map?
- How does a person become American?
2. Create a concept map / graphic organizer to BRAINSTORM symbols of America. Have students think of words that represent America. (flag, stars and stripes, presidents, dollar, Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, map, etc.) Have the students reflect on their own feelings and thoughts about being an American and living in America. It is helpful to make sure the students understand America is a country. Using a globe or a map, briefly describe the world as it is divided into continents and then, countries. This helps to understand the basic idea that America is different than a state, another country, or a continent.
3. Using words generated during brainstorming, help students to do a simple Internet search for images that illustrate words on the concept map. Print these images and make a picture reference collage (if printer is available). This collage will help give students ideas for their hyperstudio slide imagery. Use the concept map / picture collage for review and inspiration throughout the project. Special education students need continual reinforcement and repetition to keep motivation levels high. Review and reiterate often.
4. Demonstrate how to use Hyperstudio.
Show students the basics of how to:
- open the application
- begin a new stack
- save a stack
- drag and drop the tool bars
- use tool functions
- use color / texture palette
- insert graphic / text objects, and buttons on slide
5. Each student should complete a rough draft of his or her hyperstudio slide image on plain paper. Each student should write a sentence or statement to be included on the slide, which expresses an idea related to the theme of the slide show. These preliminary thumbnail sketches will expedite the time students need on the computer when completing the Hyperstudio slide. Also, we created a simple collage with pictures of American symbols. We obtained the images in a simple search on the Internet. We used the multi-search engine, Dogpile. In the search box we typed the word we were looking for + image. For example, for the picture of the Statue of Liberty, we typed "Statue of Liberty" + image. We printed the pictures and glued them to a poster board for reference.
6. Design a rotation schedule for student computer time. Explain time limitations and order in which students will get a turn on the computer. Organize your schedule to include activities for those waiting for computer time. For example while students used the computer, my other students worked on preliminary sketches, drew pictures of American flags, and discussed the concepts related to the project.
7. It is necessary to monitor all groups working on various tasks. For example, the teacher must circulate to groups working on the computers to help with technical / art questions. Simultaneously, teacher needs to be aware of the work of other groups of students working on different activities. This takes patience and can be hectic. However with practice, it can be done. When students on the computer finish a slide, save the work in a PROJECT FOLDER on the desktop of your teacher workstation computer. Floppy disks, zip disks, or networks can be used to transfer the student artwork to your project file on your computer. When all the slides are completed, you or the students can link the files together into one slide show.
8. While monitoring students on the computers, remind them of the technical expectations of their slides. (Organized composition and use of entire screen, variety of color, large-scale images, a text statement, and two functioning buttons (back and next) must be included on each slide.)
9. As students finish their slides, transfer the slides to one computer desktop folder. As the slides are completed, the teacher or students can link the slides into one stack or slide show for presentation. The only "tricky" part of this project is linking all the slides together into a slide show. Students create "new stack" when they start their own slide. The teacher should save the stack as one file in the project folder. When all the slides are complete, the teacher and/or students should start a new stack and "save as" the new slide show name. In this case, "I Am An American" slide show. Next, open up your first finished student file and "COPY THIS SLIDE". Then open the slide show stack and "PASTE" the slide into the new slide show. Continue this process until all the student slides have been pasted into the new show.
10. Discuss the outcomes of the project with students and assess their individual work. Explain assessment tool used to evaluate and process/review the objectives with students.
11. (optional) Print individual student slides for display or compilation into a "digital book". Using the title slide as a cover design, staple or bind the slide pages into a student made book for the classroom or school library.
12. Celebrate the success of the collaboration with a "screening" of the completed slide show for participants and visitors.
Assessment Tools I use a holistic technology rubric that is used throughout the year to tally the skill level of students as they complete technology projects. As the students progress during the year, points add up to designate their technology skill level. This is added to their digital art portfolio. However, I also use individual project rubrics. The individual project rubric (below) is designed to reflect student progress on individual projects.
I Am An American - Individual Project Rubric
Students are given a letter / number grade for each of the criteria:
Determine average: E = 100-70 S = 65-45 N = 40-0
E = Excellent, outstanding, beyond requirements (10 points)
S = Satisfactory, average, requirement met (5 points)
N = Needs improvement, objective incomplete (0 points)
Student:
_ participated in class discussion and reflection.
_ shows awareness of the basic meaning / concepts of being an American.
_ can find, open, and save a student file on the computer.
_ knows how to drag and drop the tool bars.
_ demonstrates ability to use a mouse as a drawing tool.
_ used at least three tools in the Hyperstudio palette.
_ used Hyperstudio color palette including textures.
_ included two functioning buttons (Back and Next) on their slide.
_ created an artwork that conveys an idea and understanding of a theme.
_ has written a statement to accompany the illustrated slide.
original artwork © Sheree Rensel
May 2002
CONTACT:srensel@waldenu.edu