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__ Overview __ You are about to take your students on a virtual trip they won’t forget! Their participation in this project will take them places in Colorado they will probably have never seen, meet people they didn’t know even existed, and delve into the rich history of this state. Instruction is provided in a student-driven, standards-addressed, technology-enhanced, authentically-assessed adventure of regional discovery while your students are meeting state and district Information, Literacy, and Technology standards. . __ What content is covered? __ This project is designed to promote // uncovering // of learning, instead of coverage of content. With that in mind, the project envelopes a range of Colorado curricular content. The questions fall into five categories: Geographic Features; All About Denver; Fun Facts; Colorado People; and Historical Landmarks. . __ How long will it take to implement the project? __ The answer depends on the amount of class time you want to devote to it. The project is designed to be flexible. If you want your students to visit all areas, they will be researching and responding to 50 questions. Students can take on numerous questions in the course of a short time, so your students will be able to complete the project. However, you may want your students to take on only one or a few sections. It’s really at your discretion!! __ . __ __ Do my students have the pre-existing knowledge and skills needed to be successful on this project? __ Students either need to have a basic understanding of reading, writing, and basic Internet research. Included on the supporting webpage for this project are searching tips and tips on graphics for your students. As your students begin to write authentically about their findings, their writing will improve—you should be prepared to elevate your writing criteria with each computer visit. __ . __ __ What will my students be doing? __ Your students will be working as a partnership or as a team as they take a virtual trip to visit the five sections of Colorado study. They will: 1. Learn about the project (from you!) using the web site links provided; 2. Work as a team member on specific Colorado areas: 3. Use critical thinking skills to figure out the answer to the questions provided; 4. Using the stem answer provided student will answer the required question. 5. Take a screen shot for their virtual journal; 6. Answer additional questions; 7. Turn in their work; 8. Repeat the process until they have traveled the state and returned safely home.Provide small groups of computers for your students; some on the computer doing research and some writing. NO, they won’t be aimlessly “surfing the Internet”, as the only sites they need are provided with each clue. All questions are nested within the ‘Student Page’ of the chosen Colorado area. __ . __ __ Why will this be so exciting for my students? __ There are several reasons: first, students are participating in a virtual adventure. But more importantly, even though criteria are set as to what the student must turn in, the response to the research requires high-level responses and can vary with their personal perspective. __ . __ __ Is there an order to the clues? __ <span style="color: #126a12; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">No. __ . __ __ Can my students play as a team? __ <span style="color: #126a12; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Sure. In fact, pairing student will encourage cooperative learning. Just make sure that each student is writing their OWN letter, as the writing is an essential part of the learning process. __ . __ __ What will the student’s final project look like? __ <span style="color: #126a12; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">One of the purposes or this project has nothing to do with curriculum—it has as much to do with: <span style="color: #126a12; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">ORGANIZATION <span style="color: #126a12; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">TENACITY <span style="color: #126a12; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">PERSEVERANCE <span style="color: #126a12; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">CREATIVITY <span style="color: #126a12; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">ACCURACY <span style="color: #126a12; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">PERSPECTIVE <span style="color: #126a12; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">COLORADO AWARENESS

With that said, each student should have, at the completion of the project, something so spectacular, so personal, and so dynamic, that it is something they will be proud of forever! The tool this project is based on is a Mixbook, an online scrap book. Of course you can choose other tools for your students from a Word document to an online video. Even without any change, the content will bring a two-dimension project to life, reflecting a comprehensive, creative, and colorful reflection of their virtual trip around the state they have explored. __ . __ __ What do I need to do before I take them to the lab? __ <span style="color: #126a12; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">1. Set up student groups. <span style="color: #126a12; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">2. Decide which Colorado areas you want your students to investigate. <span style="color: #126a12; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; line-height: 115%;">3. Print out the student research sheets.

__ Can I modify the research of my students? __ Absolutely! You are the teacher; you get to do whatever you think is best for your students. You can give them more questions within the chosen area or you can give the team more areas to study.

__ Can I modify the contents of the clues? __ Absolutely! You are the teacher; you get to do whatever you think is best for your students. You can get more statistical information; place an emphasis on current events or any other area you choose.

__ Project Objectives __ Tour Colorado is designed to give students a self-directed research adventure with reading, writing and technology authentically interlaced in a curricular content of Denver and Colorado history. --Students will effectively and authentically use PowerPoint; --Students will effectively and authentically use a scaffold approach to using the Internet; --Students will gather and summarize information; --Students will improve searching techniques by determining and using keywords; --Students will read with purpose; --Students will write summaries with personal perspective.

How to use Mixbooks? 1. Go to Mixboood website 2. Click on 'SIGNUP' and fill out the simple form. The recommendation is that the teacher create a generic account using the school name and a gmail email address. An example would be dpscolorado@gmail.com and the password would be colorado. 3. Once you open mixbook using the previous account information click on MY PROJECTS. Here you will see a template. 4. Create your own account and create a template. 5. Give your students the link and the user name and password. 6. Students should open the template. On the right hand side click on COPY. The students need to then change the name of the template using their own first names. 7. At this point students will be able to choose a background, import photos, and add text. See the screen shot below: