Colleen+Barlow's+Social+Collabortation+Tool+Lesson


 * Social Collaboration Tool**

**Synopsis:**
As an extension of the previous lesson, fourth graders will gather numerical data by posting a question on our class blog. Students will gather the information from the responses they receive on the blog and then find the median, mode, range and the mean of this data. Students will post their results on the class blog.


 * Standards Addressed:**


 * =====Construct, read, and interpret displays of data including tables, charts, pictographs, and bar graphs=====
 * =====Interpret data using the concepts of largest, smallest, most often, and middleGenerate, analyze, and make predictions based on data obtained from surveys=====
 * Use technology tools to exchange-classroom to classroom-stories, artifacts, and information about their lives, communities, and cultures.
 * Share curriculum-related concepts with their classmates, families, and others using developmentally appropriate online curriculum-based resources
 * Apply learning process to new technologies

**Day 1**
Review with students how to find the median, mode and range of a sample set of data. Then discuss which of these measures of center would be most accurate for determining a students grade on the report card. Chances are high, a student will have background knowledge of the mean--which is the perfect segway to then teach how to find the mean of data to the rest of the class. After teaching the students how to find the mean, ask the students to each come up with one more question that would result in numerical data. While the students are writing their question, circulate the room to offer assistance and check over questions. As students finish writing their questions, have the students get a laptop off of the cart. Once all students have a laptop, have a student come up to the smartboard and model to the class how to get onto the class website, [] As this should be review for the students this process should go quickly. Remind students that they are expected to assist their neighbor if they are struggling to get to the appropriate website. Now that all students are on the class website, thank the student for being our class expert and model to the class the new link that has been added on the left side of the page, Class Blog. Instruct students to click on this link. Have students raise their hand when their computer screen matches the smartboard. Once all hands have been raised ask the students to place their hands in their lap under the desk. Students will now see you model to the class how to add a post to the class blog. As you model this to the class, emphasize how you are only using your first name because you are practicing internet safety. Also, discuss how you are being sure to stay on topic and use school appropriate topics and words. Before hitting submit, show the students how you are going back to make sure that the post is exactly the way you want it. If you have not already taught your students about right clicking to access the dictionary to correct misspellings, this would be a beneficial time to do so. Lastly, remind the students that our website is available to ANYONE with Internet access. We want our postings to show how great we write! Then click on submit. Students will now type their questions into the blog.

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As students are typing their postings, be actively circulating and monitoring progress. Depending on the success and quickness of your students, you may want to go back to your computer and begin approving posts. Students will be excited to see their work published!=====

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Using the SmartBoard, model to the students how to reply to a post on the class blog. Then allow students twenty minutes to log on to the class blog and respond to their classmates questions. Students should now be able to go back to their initial post and analyze their data. Students will need the next thirty minutes to find the mode, median, mean and range of the data collected. Ask the students to determine which measure of center seems the most accurate for the data collected? Have the students begin writing up their findings and an explanation of which central tendency is the most accurate for their data set.=====

Students will post their findings on the class blog and begin reading and possibly responding to their classmates findings.
 * Day 3**

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Be sure to check out the laptops in advance. Each student will need their own laptop and access to the Internet. The teacher will also need their laptop, the SmartBoard and Internet access during this activity.=====

As every class is different and the needs are bound to vary. Here are a few options to assist the teacher in making sure every child's needs are met.

 * ===== Calculators are an option for students needing help with determining the mean =====
 * ===== Early finishers can become experts in the room and help others. =====
 * ===== Students with modifications may be asked to only find the mean. =====

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As this lesson is introductory for the students, their will not be a formal assessment at this time. While the teacher is circulating the room, fill out a checklist assessing the students skills in using the blog (Were they able to make an initial post? Did the student get to the blog? Did they respond to the classmates? Were they able to successfully submit their posting?) The blog will be the informal assessment that allows the teacher to progress monitor the students ability to accurately analyze data and find the mean, mode, median, and range.=====