Name: Oneil Scott
A. Format of the Information Literacy Unit Plan
Academic Subject(s): Algebra I
Topic(s) of Unit: Conducting Investigations using Statistical Methods
Grade Level(s): 7 - 8
Standards Integrated into the Unit Plan (not information literacy standards):
Student Content Standards
Maryland State Department of Education Goal 3.1.1.The student will design and/or conduct an
investigation that uses statistical methods to analyze data and communicate results.
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The student will design investigations stating how data will be collected and justify the
method.
Types of investigations may include: simple random sampling, representative sampling,
and probability simulations.
In simple random sampling each member of the population is equally likely to be chosen
and the members of the sample are chosen independently of each other. Sample size will
be given for these investigations.
Learning Objectives for 5-Day Unit:
Students will learn how to conduct investigations using statistical methods and communicate the
results in an appropriate manner.
Information Literacy Objectives:
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Information Needed: Students will need to review how to create and conduct a survey.
The results of the survey will be communicated by a video, power-point presentation,
wiki voice-thread in Edmodo or other pre-approved technologies.
 Locate Information:
Students will develop a plan to use the resources provided and any other resources to find the
information they need for the project. They will decide which information to include in their
final report.
 The students will evaluate the materials they have gathered for authority accuracy,
objectivity, currency, and usefulness. They will then make appropriate conclusions based
on the information they have.
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Create and communicate results: organize the information from all sources, including
multimedia sources, and synthesize it, create a multimedia product to communicate the
information and share the end product with classmates, the community, or globally, cite
sources used, present/perform/share
Cite the sources used in a correct format
Assess process and product: evaluate the research process, evaluate the quality of the
product
Prerequisite Student Skills: Students must be able to do research on the World Wide
Web. They must be familiar with the power-point software. They must be familiar with
Edmodo and how to record and upload a voice thread. They must be familiar with use
excel spreadsheets and then make graphs from data they have collected.
Materials:
Prentice Hall – Algebra I Text Book.
Search engine example Google.
Database: Prince Georges County Memorial Library System
Worksheet on Key Words
How to evaluate sources
APA Citation style
Brief Overview of Unit This unit will introduce students to the features of a proper survey and
how to conduct it without biases. Students will then create a presentation to share the results of
their survey with the class.
Teacher To Teacher: This unit will allow the students to brainstorm what they want to survey,
where and when it will be conducted. They will determine the questions and format of the
survey. Then create a presentation.
Procedures /Daily Activities
Day 1:
Students will review and research how to conduct a survey. They will use their algebra I text
book, web search engines or any other resource of their choice. They will use the key word
worksheet as a starting point. They will verify the accuracy and validity of their research
information. I will ask the students to update me on their progress after the first day. I will
review their work and provide feedback to them. This will be part of the informal assessment of
the project.
Day 2:
Students will design their survey. They will decide which questions they will use. The will select a
sample size. They will choose either an online method, questionnaire or choose to face to face
questioning. Students will give me a copy of the survey. I will review the questions and
procedures they have in mind and help them to refine and improve their work where necessary.
Day 3:
Students will conduct the survey. They will record their data and then analyze it. This aspect will
be done at home, in the cafeteria or online depending on the students’ choices.
Day 4:
Students will communicate the results of their survey by creating graphs, spreadsheets and other
displays. They will incorporate this in videos, power-points, wikis, and voice-threads in Edmodo
or any other approved methods. I will provide help to those who need support in finalizing their
project.
Day 5:
Students will make 5 minutes presentation to classmates and teacher.
Student Assessment and Evaluation
The project will be assessed based on the attached rubric.
B. Analysis of Information Literacy Lesson Plan
In well-organized paragraphs analyze your reasons for selecting the activities you did and their
relationship to your goals. Include the following points.
Rationale for Activities:
Students are expected to use their literacy skills to search different media and find information
relevant to the project. This assignment will give them an opportunity to do so. Thy will have a
chance to evaluate their finding for accuracy and reliability. The math state standards expect the
students to be able to design their own investigation and then conduct it. They should be able to
communicate the results of their finding use mathematical concepts and notation. They should be
able to use appropriate technology to do the research and to present their final product. That is
why I have chosen the activities that I have outlined in this unit plan.
By using the textbook, web browsers and library database, the students will have to demonstrate
their ability to find information. Designing the survey according to the procedures in the
resources will show that they were able to process the information appropriately. Finally have a
final document that includes texts, charts and multi-media will demonstrate the ability to use
technology to communicate. Students will be expected to use the appropriate citation methods.
This unit is the beginning of goal three of the Maryland State Department of Education
curriculum goal three that covers data analysis and probability. Students are expected to learn
how to gather, interpret and communicate data. Later they will study other aspects of data
analysis and statistics. This lesson is appropriate for this class because they are a homogeneous
group of advance math students. We are part of a technology school and so the students are very
familiar with spreadsheets, Edmodo and online survey soft wares. There are no low performing
students in this group.
C. Reflection on Unit Lesson Plan
This lesson plan has been an eye opener for me with respect to information literacy. I am now
more aware of the need to get my students involve in searching and evaluating information. I
have seen the need to have them check the sources for accuracy and reliability. It is now the
norm for me to include not only text, but visuals, and listening pieces in my resources so they can
read, scan pictures and listen to information. Part of my goal is to always be a reflective
practitioner who tries to improve my craft. This class has given more tools to ensure I become
more effective as I look at what I am currently doing and adjust my pedagogy and planning
going forward. As I move forward I want to improve the various methods of assessment that I do
with my student’s work.
D. Reflection on the Semester
Information Literacy is a relatively new concept for me. I can now see how to some extent I have
been using the components of information literacy without realizing the terminologies that I now
know to associate with the tasks. One important concept I have learned is that I should use a
variety of information media to appeal to the various learning styles of my students. I often took
for granted the information I researched on the World Wide Web. Now I am more careful to
check the source for currency, accuracy and reliability etc. I have also instilled this idea in the
minds of my students. I have seen the need to analyze what I read in terms of the culture that is
associated with it especially since we live in a world where there are so many people from
different cultures around us or we are connected to them through the internet.
I appreciate the many web 2.0 tools that were introduced to the class which includes Animoto,
Jing, Live Journal, Glogster, Evernote etc. I was happy to create my first Wiki with other
classmate and I have been use one to communicate with my students and parents. It was fairly
easy to use PBWorks to create our Wiki. At first my page lacked appeal as could not figure out
how to add pictures and other text. After many hours of trial and error I am now more competent
in using it. I have been asked to chair our math department and so Over the next years I will be
sharing what I have learned in this class with my colleagues. We have already implemented
some of the suggestion and I will continue to try to be a leader in searching out more ways to
integrate information literacy into our daily lesson. Our county is starting a new way of writing
lesson plans using longer term student learning objectives. This will make it easier for me to
include the components of information literacy in my lesson plans.
References:
Harris.R (2010). Evaluating Internet Research Sources. Retrieved from: http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm
Maryland State Department of Education. Retrieved from:
http://mdk12.org/instruction/hsvsc/algebra/standard3.html
University of Maryland University College. APA Citation Examples. Retrieved from:
http://www.umuc.edu/library/libhow/apa_examples.cfm
Prince Georges County Memorial Library System