Context and Conditions

This project was developed for MIT 512: Computer Applications in Education in the fall of 2003 under the direction of Dr. Sue-Jen Chen. The projects completed in the course were directly applicable to public school settings. The artifacts included here are the Character Education WebQuest, a teacher resource web page, the ADA Compliant Computer Workstations, and the Web Site Evaluation form. The Webquest was designed to integrate technology skills and teach character education to 8 th grade students. It provides problem-based learning activities for middle school students. The ADA Compliant workstations were designed for a local high school. The Web Site Evaluation form could be used to evaluate any web sources that teachers and students use for research purposes.

Scope

To write the unit plan for the WebQuest, I had to describe the objectives and sequence the tasks so that an 8 th grade audience could use the web site to work through an online unit. The unit required students to use a web site to complete problem-based tasks and while completing the tasks, they would use software programs and web resources that were linked within the site. The development of this unit required MS PowerPoint, Publisher, MS Works Database, and FrontPage. Using FrontPage, I created a mini electronic portfolio. Within the eportfolio site, a teacher resource page was developed. It includes links of evaluated web sites that could be beneficial to classroom teachers. The areas covered by the resources listed include the major content areas such as english, math, and social studies. The resource list also contained links to WebQuests, exceptional children resources, software tutorials, tips on searching the Internet, and even online databases containing ready-to-use lesson plans for teachers. The ADA compliance project was completed for a local high school that had a need for more ADA compliant computer workstations to serve their students’ exceptional needs. ADA regulations were followed as well as requirements based on NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND federal standards. Recommendations for specific software and required furniture were made. An implementation plan including a timeline and responsible persons is included as well. The web site evaluation form was designed to be used to evaluate web sources for content, validity, relevance, and screen design.

Role

I designed and developed the Webquest project as well as all of the handouts that are available for downloading. The ADA project was a team effort of me and two other MIT students who also happen to work in the New Hanover County school system. We collaborated to gather information and provide details to contribute to the proposal. We made site visits to gain perspective of where the workstations would be located. I created the web evaluation form with a fellow MIT student.

Reflection

These projects were helpful in increasing my experience with understanding both federal and state regulations that affect the school systems. I also had to develop an implementation plan in the ADA project which included a timeline and naming of responsible persons. The WebQuest was a design project as well as a development project. I had to design the site and apply a problem-based design in a multimedia environment. I also exercised my skills in the integration of technology into the curriculum that teachers must follow. The development of the project involved extensive knowledge of the Microsoft software programs such as Publisher, Word, Works Database, and FrontPage. Evaluation was the focal point of the web evaluation project and I was able to develop a form that could be used to rate the content, validity, relevance, and screen design of a site.