The teacher discusses using project-based learning and technology to engage students with different strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles in her English class. She describes several activities where students used digital tools to connect with texts, including creating wikipages and blogs to discuss "Up from Slavery" and responding to a Ted Talk. Students also researched artifacts at the New Orleans Museum of Art and created podcasts to share their findings. The activities address many Common Core State Standards around reading, writing, speaking, listening, and using technology for research and collaboration.

1. with her Digital Scholars
My philosophy of education is to provide my students with an inquirybased atmosphere that fosters their individualized interests and
talents. In my English classes, I use project based learning and
technology to make learning enjoyable for all. Because my students
have a variety of strengths, weakness and learning styles, I design
each lesson so that it is diversified enough so that all students are able
to succeed.
Below are activities that allow students to use technology to connect with
text read in our class.
Wikipages for “Up From Slavery”
WJ Scholars read and respond to Booker T. Washington’s “Up From Slavery” (NonFiction Unit.) My
Scholars….
1. Completed a PreReading Webquest about Slavery in America to gather information
2. Created a wikipage with those results
3. Read and blogged about the book
4. Created glogs with their “Up From Slavery” responses
Student Work Samples:
http://scholarlysubmissions1011.pbworks.com/w/page/31331862/ayla-undergroundrailroad
http://scholarlysubmissions1011.pbworks.com/w/page/31232492/Eva-Underground-Railroad
http://scholarlysubmissions1011.pbworks.com/w/page/31245207/diamond-underground-railroadSome of the many Common Core State Standards addressed:
 R.1 Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite
specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text
 R.7 Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and
quantitatively, as well as in words

2.  W.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate
to task, purpose, and audience.
 W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly
and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
 W.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate
with others.
 W.7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating
understanding of the subject under investigation.
 W.8 Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and
accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.
Talking about Ted Talks
WJ Scholars watched and responded to a Ted Talk (NonFiction Unit.)
My Scholars….
1. Watched a Ted Talk by Chimamanda Adichie
2. Created a blog post in response
Student Work Samples:
http://msvrburton.edublogs.org/2010/12/05/chimamanda-adichie-the-danger-of-a-single-story/#comments
http://kidblog.org/ScholarsstudyUpFromSlavery/anthoneshea/a-single-story-5/
http://kidblog.org/ScholarsstudyUpFromSlavery/boudreauxmyranda/my-chimamanda-essay/
Some of the many Common Core State Standards addressed:
 R.1 Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite
specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text
 SL.2 Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually,
quantitatively, and orally.
 SL.3 Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
 W.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate
to task, purpose, and audience.
 W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly
and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
Create Podcasts for New Orleans Museum of Art

3. WJ Scholars create podcasts describing artifacts displayed at the Museum of Art (Nonfiction Unit.) My
Scholars….
http://jppss-techneaux21s.wikispaces.com/New+Orleans+Museum+of+ArtSelected a work of art to research,
describe and analyze
1. Summarized this information and created a wikipage containing research results
2. Created a podcast describing an artifact
3. Uploaded the to SoundCloud to be shared
Student Work Samples:
http://soundcloud.com/221podcasts/sets/noma-1
Some of the many Common Core State Standards addressed:
 R.1 Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite
specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text
 R.2 Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details
and ideas.
 R.7 Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and
quantitatively, as well as in words
 W.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate
to task, purpose, and audience.
 W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly
and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
 W.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate
with others.
 W.7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating
understanding of the subject under investigation.
 W.8 Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and
accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.
 SL.4 Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and
the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
 SL.5 Make strategic use of digital to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.
 SL.6 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when
indicated or appropriate.