U8A2 Social Networking in my classroom: Science Fair Project

Curriculum:  Science

Grade: Fourth

 Skill: Science Fair Projects

Objective:  Students will be able to organize data and research regarding their science fair projects/experiments on their own blog and respond to their peers’ projects by commenting on student created blogs.

Social Networking tool:  blogster.com

Benefits of using blogster.com:

·         Features a combination of blogging and a social network

·         Students will be able to create a profile and a blog which will contain their science fair project data.

·         Students will choose a “Friends Only” privacy level allowing only classroom peers to see and comment on blogs.

·         Students can leave messages on student walls or inbox a message regarding the science fair project.

·         Students can post pictures of their science projects.

·         Inbox and photos can be set to Friends only privacy setting.

·         Spam free blogs

Why use a social networking tool:

·         Students will use blogster as an opportunity to organize their information regarding their science fair project on their blog.

·         Students will have the opportunity to display their information in an interactive way.

·         Students can work on this at school and then access at home.

·         Blog would eliminate paper notes that students could easily loose.

·         Blogs allow students to be highly motivated/creative in completing longer assignments.

·         This could be used as a whole class with each student carrying out his or her own science fair project and creating their own blog on blogster to showcase their project.

·         All students in the classroom will create their blog on blogster to highlight their science fair project.

·         Students would be encouraged to view and leave comments for their peers using constructive critism regarding the science fair project.  

·         This would allow all students to present a science fair project, even those students that are uncomfortable with speaking in front of their classroom, grade, or even school.

Desired outcomes:

Students will use the social networking site to:

·         Display their data, photos, research of their science fair project using their blog and profile

·         Students will have the opportunity to work on this at school and also access at home

·         Students will have the opportunity to view all classmates science fair projects with the click of a mouse (All students in the class will be selected friends on profiles)

·         Students will have the opportunity to provide constructive criticism by in boxing peers a message or leaving comments.

Alternatives to using social networking tool:

·         Students collect data and research on paper.

·         Students create a presentation using a display board.

·         Students display boards and present in a large group setting.

Why Social Networking would be more successful:

·         Students would not need to keep track of loose papers as all data and research would be entered onto blog.

·         Students would not need to purchase a display board, blogster is free.

·         Students could view peer’s science projects on the blogs multiple times rather than one time in a classroom or gym setting when other students are also trying to view it. Students tend to be more distracted using the traditional method.

·         Students could take their time responding to peer’s projects by leaving comments on blogs rather than the occasional “I like your project.”

·         Those students who feel uncomfortable presenting in front of their peers would be motivated to use the social networking tools.

Ways to ensure security using the social networking tool to avoid forseeable problems:

·         Teacher will initially set up all blogs with appropriate friend privacy setting. Teacher will make sure all students in the classroom are “friends.” This will eliminate students communicating with other members of blogster outside of the classroom community.

·         Teacher will provide students with “Rules and Responsibility Guidelines Handout.” This would provide students with appropriate uses and consequences when not used appropriate.

·         Teacher will monitor blogs daily to ensure all activity is appropriate.

·         Teacher will inform parents before project has been introduced to students to obtain approval (permission form to participate in this activity). This would include parents in this assignment and allow them to ask questions.

·         Teacher will review appropriate uses with students and parents.

·         Teacher will review consequences to using the social networking tool inappropriately.

Student Rules and Responsibility Guideline Handout

Science Fair Project using Blogster

Student Rules and Responsibilities

1.       The Social Networking tool is to remain in the appropriate security setting that teacher selected.

2.       The Social Networking tool is to be used only to display data/research and communicate only regarding science fair project.

3.       Comments are to be respectful and school appropriate. Only leave comments that you would feel comfortable sharing in class.

4.       Students have the responsibility to privately report other students that are using the social networking tool inappropriate to the teacher or parent.

5.       All students should be aware that the teacher and parents will be monitoring daily.

Consequences

1.       If any rule is broken throughout project, teacher will conference with student.

2.       Teacher will report any misuse to principal and parents.

3.       School consequences will apply: Missing recess, in- school suspension, out of school suspensions, loss of assemblies, field trips, or any other 6^th grade opportunity.

4.       Student’s access to the Social Networking site will be taken away if a rule is broken. Student will have to complete project in traditional manner.