The Odyssey Through Theme and Reflection of African-American Culture from Apple's Learning Interchange
This project is designed to allow learners an opportunity to connect with one another while exploring themes from Homer's Odyssey. This exploration is done through the lens of non-fiction text and a focus on African-American culture. This supports the literacy needs of students and allows connections to black culture. The connections are made using blogs to allow students the ability to communicate in a native environment. Youth of the 21st century are very familiar with using this media to share ideas, so the thematic explorations become part of their culture. In addition, it allows connections to be made between different classes, which wouldn't normally occur in a traditional four-wall scenario.
Objective(s) 1. explore themes of Homer's Odyssey, 2. apply project themes through non-fiction text, 3. connect with other learners through online dialogue, 4. interact with the world of African-American citizens throughout history
NETS:
CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION: demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology., CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION: apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION: use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others., COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION: develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures.
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP: exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity., DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP: demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning.
TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS AND CONCEPTS: demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology., TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS AND CONCEPTS: create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
Procedures - 1. Introductory lesson on building connections. See resources. (http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/story.php?itemID=14589&version=3295&pageID=8128), 2. Each class is split into five subgroups. Each week, the subgroups are assigned one of the five project themes. During the week, each learner visits the project’s website/blog. They read a single non-fiction text (from a list of potential articles) based on their weekly theme. By the end of the fifth week, each student will have worked through all five themes., 3. # After reading the text, they post a one-sentence summary and three to four sentence personal response on the project blog. After posting their own thoughts, they read the postings of other students from their subgroup and the students from other classes. They can post reactions and engage in dialogue. , 4. Throughout the project, each class can pause to apply the concepts they are learning and draw connections between themes, the Odyssey, and their own lives.
Assessment They are graded based on a single rubric and earn points each week.
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