Developing Technology-Infused
Interdisciplinary Thematic Units
Bonita Williams
Paulina Kuforiji
Columbus State University
Columbus, Georgia
Rita Mitchell
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois
http://racc.colstate.edu/
Table of Contents
Introduction
Georgia Performance Standards
Structure of Thematic Units
Technology and High Level Thinking Skills
Twenty-first Century Instructional Tools
Overview of “It Takes A Village Thematic Units”
Questions and Answers
http://racc.colstate.ed
Developing Technology-Infused
Interdisciplinary Thematic Units
Introduction
Who am I as a teacher?
Who am I as a learner?
http://racc.colstate.edu/
50 Years of Progress
1956
2006
2006 Medical Doctor
Dr. Kildare
50 Years of Progress
1956
Perry Mason
2006
2006 Lawyers
50 Years of Progress
1956
2006
2006 Business Tycoon
Business Tycoon
50 Years of Progress
1956
2006
A Teacher in the 50s
A Teacher in year 2006
50 Years of Progress
Are we preparing them for this age,
…or for 2006 and beyond?
Developing Technology-Infused
Interdisciplinary Thematic Units
Georgia Performance Standards
Student Learning Focus
Process as well as Product Assessment
More In-depth consideration of content
Less Repetition
Inter-related Units of Study
http://racc.colstate.edu/
Developing Technology-Infused
Interdisciplinary Thematic Units
Structure of Thematic Units
Standards
Student Interest and Engagement
Variety of Instructional Methods and Materials
Flexibility and accommodations to
include all students
Clearly Identify Assessment Goals
Student assessment and reflection
http://racc.colstate.edu/
Developing Technology-Infused
Interdisciplinary Thematic Units
Technology and High Level Thinking
Skills
Reflective and reasonable thinking that is
focused on deciding what to believe or do
(Robert Ennis, quoted in Presseisen, p.
24)
The process of determining the
authenticity, accuracy and worth of
information or knowledge claims (Beyer
1985, p. 276).
Developing Technology-Infused
Interdisciplinary Thematic Units
Technology and High Level Thinking
Skills
Higher Level Thinking Skills
• Use technology to solve complex problems alone or
collaboratively
• Develop challenging, creative, and innovative projects
• Evaluate validity of information
Inspiration to create multimedia presentations, diagrams,
charts, books, and concept maps to present their research,
thinking, and their understanding of new concepts.
Use technology resources (e.g., puzzles, logical thinking
programs
http://www.alice.org
Developing Technology-Infused
Interdisciplinary Thematic Units
Overview of “It Takes A Village Thematic Units”
This African proverb has been quoted often by
politicians and educators to express the inclusive
and expansive role of different stakeholders in the
education of children and youth. Far less often,
however, are other values and beliefs of African
people quoted or studied in mainstream American
education. This curriculum project examines a
series of events in American and African history that
reflect values and beliefs about personal and
corporate freedom, collaborative work, and interracial relationships. Africa and individuals claiming
them as property.
Overview of “It Takes A Village”
Thematic Units
Grade 1: Amistad Heroes
Grade 3/4: Our Democratic Heritage: Values
and Beliefs About Freedom
Grade 7: World Cultures: Africa- The Mende of
Sierra Leone
Each of the three modules contains:
An instructional alignment with the Georgia
Performance Standards (GPS)
Background resources for teachers that can be
adapted for student use
Student learning and assessment activities
http://racc.colstate.edu/
Overview of “It Takes A
Village” Thematic Units
Grade 1: Amistad Heroes
Students will:
Read about and describe the life of American
historical figures (SS1H1);
Describe the cultural and geographic systems
associated with historical figures (SS1G1);
Us a variety of strategies to understand and gain
meaning from grade level texts (ELA1R6);
Begin to demonstrate competency in writing
process (ELA1W1);
Use oral and visual strategies to communicate
(ELA1LSV1)
http://racc.colstate.edu/
Overview of “It Takes A Village”
Thematic Units
Grade 3/4: Our Democratic Heritage: Values
and Beliefs About Freedom
Students will:
Use research and technology to support writing
(ELA4W3)
Read and comprehend texts from a variety of
genres (ELA4R1)
Communicate effectively with different audiences
(ELA4LSV 1 and 2)
Discuss lives of Americans who expanded people’s
rights and freedom in a democracy (SS3H2)
Explain the challenges of the abolitionists
movement (SS4H7)
http://racc.colstate.edu
Overview of “It Takes A Village”
Thematic Units
Grade 7: World Cultures: AfricaThe Mende of Sierra Leone
Students will:
Use research and technology to support writing
(ELA7W3)
Consistently use writing process to develop,
revise, and evaluate writing (ELA 7W4)
Demonstrate understanding and control of the
rules of English language (ELA 7C1)
Participate in student-teacher, student-student, and
group verbal interaction (ELA7LSV1)
Establishes a context for information acquired by
reading across subject areas (ELA7RC4)
http://racc.colstate.edu/
Overview of “It Takes A Village”
Thematic Units
Grade 7: World Cultures: AfricaThe Mende of Sierra Leone
(cont’d)
Students will:
Explain reasons for African Independence
Movement (SS7H2)
Describe and locate physical and human
characteristics of Africa (SS7G1)
Explain the impact of location, climate, physical
characteristics, natural resources, and population
size of African countries
http://racc.colstate.edu/
Developing Technology-Infused
Interdisciplinary Thematic Units
Questions and Answers
http://racc.colstate.edu/
References
http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sirs/6/cu11.html