TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION - Projects

Apple Learning Exchange  ('E' 'M' 'H')
Excellent assortment of annotated Web based projects. Topics ran the gamut from history to zoology. If you have a better idea for a web project, you can submit it for inclusion on this page.
ali.info.apple.com/

Bird Observation Projects for Classrooms ('E' 'M' 'H')
A grand listing of observation and data gathering projects that will enrich and foster scientific inquiry. Look through the entire list as there is sure to be something of interest, such as 'The Great Backyard Bird Count' or the 'Urban Bird Studies Projects.' Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Teacher resources: www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/Birding123/ReportObservations.html

Developing WebQuests ('E' 'M' 'H')
WebQuests are inquiry-oriented lessons/activities that can promote cooperative learning and use of authentic tasks. An impressive body of training materials is online here to assist you in developing WebQuests for or with your students, whether building your first WebQuest or even if you are a pro at it. Site is hosted by the Educational Technology Department at San Diego State University.
Teacher resources: webquest.sdsu.edu/materials.htm

Journey North ('E' 'M' 'H') (Standards)
"Journey North engages students in a global study of wildlife migration and seasonal change. K-12 students share their own field observations with classmates across North America." Find lesson plans, activities and information to help students make local observations and fit them into a global context. Widely considered a best-practices model for education, Journey North is the nation's premiere "citizen science" project for children." Solid teacher resources with hundreds of lessons available, correlation to standards. Site by Annenberg/CPB.
www.learner.org/jnorth/
Teacher resources: www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/

Kids As Global Scientists ('M')
This site "engages students in an inquiry based middle school weather curriculum. The project focuses on maximizing the educational potential of current computer technologies in science classes. KGS offers a unique blend of structured weather curriculum, hands-on science investigations, real-time information from the Internet, telecommunication through an electronic message board, and an Internet-smart CD-ROM." By One Sky Many Voices.
Teacher resources: http://onesky.engin.umich.edu/kgs01.html

Engineering Activities for Technology Literacy ('E' 'M' 'H') (Standards)
As the first state to require K-12 to include engineering concepts in its curriculum, this Massachusetts site provides invaluable lesson plans and activities for preK- 12. "The engineering activities and projects provide a forum for planning, hands-on building, and testing within a set of design criteria. Some of the benefits that come from using engineering based projects include: Increases the technological literacy of all students. Strong motivator for mathematics and science learning. Excellent platform for problem/project based learning. Catalyst for integrating knowledge from all disciplines."...Activities "are linked to the new Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Frameworks. Many of the standards in these frameworks are closely related to the nationally recommended standards for technological literacy by the International Technology Education Association (ITEA)."
Teacher resources: www.prek-12engineering.org/activities/

MidLink Magazine ('E' 'M' 'H')
Written by kids for kids, MidLink explores a variety of educational disciplines through articles, essays, and art. Contains a potpourri of Internet-related projects, some of which are completed, others of which seek student input. Updated monthly.
longwood.cs.ucf.edu/~MidLink/
Teacher resources: www.ncsu.edu/midlink/tch.wk.rm.htm

Pond Watch ('E' 'M' 'H') (Standards)
An internet-based project that boasts three levels of class participation. As the site says, "The purpose of the "PondWatch" project is to make students aware of the importance of ponds as a natural resource. Students will learn about: mapping and other geographical concepts, watersheds, water characteristics, pond cycles, plants, animals and human activities within watersheds, stewardship and community awareness. Student publishing encouraged. Correlated with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.
edutel.musenet.org:8042/pondwatch/index.html
Teacher resources: edutel.musenet.org:8042/pondwatch/about_pondwatch.html
Versión en Español: edutel.musenet.org:8042/pondwatch/esp_about_pondwatch.html

Roadkill 2005 ('E' 'M')
Students love this project.  It is what the title says A great opportunity to get students involved in real research supported by online databases.
edutel.musenet.org:8042/roadkill/

SchoolWorld ('E' 'M' 'H')
"SchoolWorld was designed with the premise that schools should be allowed to participate in a wide range of varied programs and projects, interact with other schools from around the world, and be provided a platform for using the Internet for educational enhancement..."
www.schoolworld.asn.au/
The current roster of projects: www.schoolworld.asn.au/projects.html

ThinkQuest ('E' 'M' 'H')
Every year Advanced Network & Services, Inc. hosts a web page design competition called "ThinkQuest." Teams of students (ages 9 - 19 with teacher coaches) submit Web sites devoted to specific topic areas.
www.thinkquest.org/