This document outlines a technology integration project for 4th grade students at La Vista West Elementary. It describes having students research topics of interest to them using online surveys, print resources, and online databases. The students then created PowerPoint presentations to present their findings to the class. The goals were for students to improve their research, speaking, and literacy skills by conducting independent research with a purpose and presenting it themselves. Issues that arose like needing more support for struggling students are also discussed.

1. Technology Integration Project La Vista West Elementary 4th Grade Erin McElvain and Kerri Stover January 13, 2009

2. The Who Fourth Grade Literacy and Media Objectives: Students should be able to: 4.1.1 Use appropriate voice level, eye contact, and body language 4.1.6 Present ideas in an organized manner 4.4.2 Use a variety of skills to derive meaning from text 4.4.4 Understand text structure 4.7.1 Generate questions in exploration of a topic 4.7.2 Record important ideas from information 4.7.3 Use graphic organizers 4.7.4 Use a word wall, dictionary, and thesaurus to spell new words 4.7.5 Use internet and resource books including encyclopedias to research topics

4. New Activity Used to enhance students’ independent reading of informational text Provided research with a purpose Presented the information to their class Facilitated their own desire to do research

5. Achieving the Same Goal Meeting the new Language Arts Objectives: What is research? Brainstormed social studies and science topics in order to integrate reading, speaking, and information literacy skills Gave online survey created with Google Docs Narrowed student topics of interest by having individual conferences

6. Achieving the Same Goal Went over Big 6 Research Process Created folders for keeping information organized Generated questions for Step 1 in process Created graphic organizers

7. Achieving the Same Goal 9. Went over Scoring Guide 10. Began research with print resources 11. Used online resources for additional research 12. Created PowerPoint Presentations from a template

8. Bibliography (Step 4)

9. Scoring Guide (Step 6)

11. Students used the Internet for research

12. Students used district-provided Online Databases

13. Students used their information to create a PowerPoint Presentation

15. Other areas The idea was to use collaboration to integrate classroom curriculum (social studies, science, language arts) with research skills using flex time