Computers in Schools Lesson Plan, ePortfolio Peer Reviews and Evaluations

Lesson Plan:

e-Portfolio Peer Reviews and Course Evaluations

Objectives:

Students will:

Provide critical feedback to experienced and novice educators.
Evaluate e-portfolios.
Respond to critical feedback by editing digital products.

NETS-T Standards:

1A. Teachers demonstrate introductory knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts related to technology.
2C. Teachers identify and locate technology resources and evaluate them.
5D. Teachers use technology to communicate and collaborate with peers, parents, and the larger community in order to nurture student learning.

Materials:

One teacher computer with lecture slides and web access
Copies of the e-portfolio peer evaluation form (2 per student)
Class slideshow
UNLV course evaluation forms
iPod with iTalk
Timer
Access to a copy machine

Procedures:

Select one student to manage the UNLV evaluation forms. Have the student review the directions and agree to follow the guidelines.

Instruct one student on use of the iPod for digital audio recording and place this student in charge of audio comments. Invite students who are interested in participating in leaving a verbal testimonial of their experiences in this course to record them using iTalk and an iPod. Ask participating students if their name, class picture, and audio statement may be included in an online teaching portfolio.

Have students open Netscape and point the browser to the homepage of their e-portfolios.

Sponge Activity: Using Technology to Enhance Develop Community (10 minutes)

Play a slideshow of pictures from the semester. Encourage students to express themselves through laughter and comments throughout the slideshow.

Upon the completion of the slideshow, discuss the importance of building classroom communities and the role photo slideshows can play in community development.

Opening (5 minutes)

Announce daily outline and objectives.

e-Portfolio Peer Reviews (45 minutes)

Have students get in groups of three, finding partners whose e-portfolios they have not seen before this session. Explain that they will independently and silently evaluate each others’ portfolios just as if they were turned in for a grade. Hand out and explain the peer evaluation forms. Note that the more critical they are of each other, the better chance they’ll provide information that will help their classmates earn a perfect final score. Direct students to provide realistic feedback for the assignment and offer positive as well as detailed constructive feedback. Encourage students to work silently, but ask questions if they have difficulty with navigation.

Dismiss students to computers and begin the evaluation process by having each student sit at a portfolio that is not his/her own. Set the timer for ten minutes. After ten minutes, tell students they have two minutes to write final comments. Set the timer for two minutes. After two minutes, have students switch to another computer and complete the process a second time.

After students complete the second evaluation, collect all the evaluation forms and ask students:

What did you learn about web design by evaluating your peers’ works?
Are you motivated to make any changes now that you had not considered before this exercise?

Tell students they may pick up their e-portfolio evaluation forms as they leave the classroom (I will be copying them as they complete their course evaluations).

Closing (5 minutes)

Review daily outline and objectives.
Note that I will continue to be available for any students needing assistance with their e-portfolios and other needs.
Announce due date for e-portfolios and Technology Journey II.
Invite students to leave audio remarks on the iPod for use in the instructor's teaching portfolio.
Note that students are to remain in the room and complete the UNLV faculty evaluation form. Explain that this is a summative evaluation of the course. It is a formal tool intended to assist instructors in improving their work and considering faculty for promotion and tenure. They will have ten minutes to complete the form and give it to the assigned student for collection.
Thank students for a wonderful semester. Also, congratulate them for their hard work, persistence, dedication to their work, and eagerness to learn for the sake of the next generation.

As students are completing their evaluations, make copies of their peer review forms. As students leave the room, give them the original of their peer evaluations and invite them to leave audio statements on the iPod. Finally, wish them luck on their continued studies.

Course Evaluations (10 minutes)

Allow students ten minutes of silence without the instructor in the room to complete the university course evaluation forms. Have the assigned student collect the forms when finished and return them to the location noted on the instruction sheet.