End of course assessment: In changing the lesson for online education, I thought it important to add a discussion piece to help students in analyzing one of the themes of the text. Students bouncing ideas back and forth, and reading and responding to others opinions in a valuable manner all promote higher levels of learning for students. In the f2f setting, students would verbally discuss, since that is not possible in an online setting, the discussion forum is a great place for that learning to take place. I chose the discussion forum rather than the chat forum as in the discussion forum I felt it would give students a chance to think and respond in a mature manner rather than off the cuff. With this being a "hot topic," conversations need to be well thought out.
In the synthesis section, it is important for online students to be able to brainstorm and gather their thoughts in one collective and organized space. Having them create an online mind map is a perfect place for them to do this. This will help them in their final evaluation piece where they needed to use all information from the lesson to create a journal entry. This forum allows students to write privately (depending on their settings and who they share the link with) and evaluate their experience.
I enjoyed creating this lesson as I find that the way I teach often mirrors online instruction, just without the web tools. I look forward to creating more lessons!
In the synthesis section, it is important for online students to be able to brainstorm and gather their thoughts in one collective and organized space. Having them create an online mind map is a perfect place for them to do this. This will help them in their final evaluation piece where they needed to use all information from the lesson to create a journal entry. This forum allows students to write privately (depending on their settings and who they share the link with) and evaluate their experience.
I enjoyed creating this lesson as I find that the way I teach often mirrors online instruction, just without the web tools. I look forward to creating more lessons!
EASyR Lesson
Lesson Plan: Of Mice and Men
BLUE indicates the change for new online suggestions.
Essential Questions:
Is euthanasia excused or condemned with Candy’s dog?
What correlation can you make between the killing of Candy’s dog and Lennie?
Learning Objectives:
Students will re-read Chapter 3 pages 44-49 where Steinbeck discusses Lennie’s character and the killing of Candy’s dog. Students will discuss whether or not killing Candy’s dog is excused or condemned using supporting information from the text.
Students will re-reach Chapter 1 pages 39-44 in which Steinbeck discusses Lennie’s character. Students will view this Prezi discussing the treatment of people with disabilities in the 1930s, along with the current article regarding the murder of a young man with a disability. Students will create correlations between Lennie and Candy’s dog, and discuss whether any of the killings were condonable.
Learning Activities:
When reading, students will take notes to support their opinions for discussion.
(Analysis) After reading p. 44-49 in Chapter 3, students will participate in a classroom discussion using the following prompt: Do you feel that Candy’s dog should have been euthanized? Used examples from the text to support your answer. Ask fellow classmates for clarification if you do not understand their point, and remember, everyone has a right to their opinion. You do not have to agree, or put others opinions down if you disagree. Students in the online setting will also participate in a discussion utilizing the same prompt. The difference would be that students would participate in the online discussion forum. They would be expected to answer the prompt and respond in meaningful way to at least 2 other classmates with questions, statements, and examples related to student responses. This can be a touchy subject, so using a negative tone, putting others opinions down, or blatant disrespect will not be tolerated.
(Synthesis) Students will create Venn diagrams for both Lennie and Candy’s dog. Students will brainstorm the characters, qualities, importance, and usefulness of both Lennie and Candy’s dog. Students in an online setting will be asked to use a site such as https://bubbl.us/ to create a mind map of the same information as the f2f students related to Lennie and Candy’s dog. The mind map should be posted on to the students’ e-classroom site such as www.weebly.com. Students will create a new page and title it “Mind Map-Lennie and Candy’s dog”
(Evaluation) After reading Chapter 3 pages 39-44 and the two articles, and creating the mind maps of Lennie and Candy’s dog, students will write in their journals in relation to the following prompt: Using well thought out information and views created in the mind map, explain why you agree or disagree that people who are no good to society, or may be viewed as a burden to society, should be euthanized to spare both them and society a waste of time and tax dollars. Students should make correlations with Lennie and his disability in regards to his importance, character, and quality of life. Is it okay to kill a dog, but not a human? Think of fellow classmates’ opinions from the discussion as you create your own opinion. It is essential students look at this topic from all angles and the advancements our society has made. Using the e-classroom site, students will create a new page titled “Euthanasia Journal Entry.” Students will create a journal entry in response to the same question addressed above that the f2f students received. The privacy level of the weebly site should allow students the freedom to express their thoughts and opinions related to this touchy subject.
In the original lesson, students would be provided with more direct instruction and prompts from the teacher. Face to face discussions would occur, and students would be provided with hands-on practice that could be easily supervised by the teacher. In the online setting, the teacher would provide the prompt and the students would be responsible for their participation in moving the discussion forward. The online setting also allows students to utilize technology pieces whereas the f2f setting utilizes the physical processes of speaking and writing. Both different avenues, but will reach the same essential objectives, and levels of learning.
BLUE indicates the change for new online suggestions.
Essential Questions:
Is euthanasia excused or condemned with Candy’s dog?
What correlation can you make between the killing of Candy’s dog and Lennie?
Learning Objectives:
Students will re-read Chapter 3 pages 44-49 where Steinbeck discusses Lennie’s character and the killing of Candy’s dog. Students will discuss whether or not killing Candy’s dog is excused or condemned using supporting information from the text.
Students will re-reach Chapter 1 pages 39-44 in which Steinbeck discusses Lennie’s character. Students will view this Prezi discussing the treatment of people with disabilities in the 1930s, along with the current article regarding the murder of a young man with a disability. Students will create correlations between Lennie and Candy’s dog, and discuss whether any of the killings were condonable.
Learning Activities:
When reading, students will take notes to support their opinions for discussion.
(Analysis) After reading p. 44-49 in Chapter 3, students will participate in a classroom discussion using the following prompt: Do you feel that Candy’s dog should have been euthanized? Used examples from the text to support your answer. Ask fellow classmates for clarification if you do not understand their point, and remember, everyone has a right to their opinion. You do not have to agree, or put others opinions down if you disagree. Students in the online setting will also participate in a discussion utilizing the same prompt. The difference would be that students would participate in the online discussion forum. They would be expected to answer the prompt and respond in meaningful way to at least 2 other classmates with questions, statements, and examples related to student responses. This can be a touchy subject, so using a negative tone, putting others opinions down, or blatant disrespect will not be tolerated.
(Synthesis) Students will create Venn diagrams for both Lennie and Candy’s dog. Students will brainstorm the characters, qualities, importance, and usefulness of both Lennie and Candy’s dog. Students in an online setting will be asked to use a site such as https://bubbl.us/ to create a mind map of the same information as the f2f students related to Lennie and Candy’s dog. The mind map should be posted on to the students’ e-classroom site such as www.weebly.com. Students will create a new page and title it “Mind Map-Lennie and Candy’s dog”
(Evaluation) After reading Chapter 3 pages 39-44 and the two articles, and creating the mind maps of Lennie and Candy’s dog, students will write in their journals in relation to the following prompt: Using well thought out information and views created in the mind map, explain why you agree or disagree that people who are no good to society, or may be viewed as a burden to society, should be euthanized to spare both them and society a waste of time and tax dollars. Students should make correlations with Lennie and his disability in regards to his importance, character, and quality of life. Is it okay to kill a dog, but not a human? Think of fellow classmates’ opinions from the discussion as you create your own opinion. It is essential students look at this topic from all angles and the advancements our society has made. Using the e-classroom site, students will create a new page titled “Euthanasia Journal Entry.” Students will create a journal entry in response to the same question addressed above that the f2f students received. The privacy level of the weebly site should allow students the freedom to express their thoughts and opinions related to this touchy subject.
In the original lesson, students would be provided with more direct instruction and prompts from the teacher. Face to face discussions would occur, and students would be provided with hands-on practice that could be easily supervised by the teacher. In the online setting, the teacher would provide the prompt and the students would be responsible for their participation in moving the discussion forward. The online setting also allows students to utilize technology pieces whereas the f2f setting utilizes the physical processes of speaking and writing. Both different avenues, but will reach the same essential objectives, and levels of learning.