Grade 5 Communication and Collaboration: Choosing Collaborative Tools (In Development)

Grade 5 Communication and Collaboration

Lesson: Choosing Collaborative Tools

A lesson seed collection is a menu of ideas that can be used to build a lesson. To build a lesson, select a Motivator Seed, a Lesson Seed, and a Assessment & Closure Seed. Use the Additional Activities and Resources for additional ideas, and remember to cue videos prior to instruction in order to avoid advertisements.

HCPSS Content Standards

Reading

RI7 Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.

Writing

W6 With guidance and support from adults, use technology to produce and publish writing (using keyboarding skills) as well as to interact and collaborate with others.
W8 Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.

Math

MP3 Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.

MP5 Use appropriate tools strategically.

STEM Standards

3. Interpret and Communicate Information from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
4. Engage in Inquiry.
7. Apply Technology Strategically.

Essential Questions

How do I select the best collaborative tool to present my information?
What criteria would you use to select the most appropriate collaborative technology tool to present my information?

Outcomes

Collaborate in pairs or groups to develop technology-based presentations or products for content-related topics using digital audio, photos, images, video, or charts (e.g., interact independently or in groups via videoconferencing or blogging with young adult authors, musicians, artists, or scientists to collaborate on a multimedia product).

Vocabulary

video conferencing
blogging
microblogging

Teacher Considerations

The activity “How Much Water Do You Use? Links to an external site.” requires students to collect data about water use in their house for one week. Be sure to introduce the activity a week prior to beginning the lessons.

Before using any social media, it is encouraged that you review what is a digital footprint, online reputation, personal information, and netiquette.

Motivator Seeds: Multiple Means of Engagement

Seed 1

Put students into small groups. Give students five minutes to develop a team name that includes an adjective, a noun, and a verb that describes their group. Afterwards, discuss the process students used to create their names. Have a discussion about the word collaboration. Use students’ ideas to insert into a word cloud like “Wordle Links to an external site.” or “Tagxedo Links to an external site..” If using “Tagxedo Links to an external site.,” you could use the images of a hand (“Collaboration is working hand-in-hand.”), a key (“Collaboration is the key to success.”), a peace sign (”Collaboration is the way to a peaceful outcome.”), or other images that lend itself to a slogan about the importance of collaboration. Print and post the word cloud in a location that can be referred to as students continue to work in groups.

Seed 2

Students pretend that they are employees of Apple. They have been hired to evaluate some collaborative tools that need to be approved to be featured on the Apple website. Begin a discussion about some of the students’ favorite apps and websites. Encourage students to reflect and share on what motivated them to choose to use the particular sites or apps they enjoy. Create a list of students’ responses. From these responses, as a class create a rubric to use to evaluate a tool’s efficiency, purpose, presentation, possible uses, etc. In a jigsaw activity, give each group one of the following collaborative tools: “Mindmeister Links to an external site.,” “Padlet Links to an external site.,” “Corkboard Links to an external site.,” “Answer Garden Links to an external site.,” “Linoit Links to an external site. ,“ “GAfE Forms, Documen Links to an external site.t, or Presentation.” Provide each group with a specific question or task to complete using the tool. Students can then present their findings using a Google Spreadsheet Links to an external site.. Students can refer to this spreadsheet later when having to choose which tool to use for another collaborative project.
“Common Sense” Rating Website Links to an external site. - Parts of this lesson could be used to supplement the lesson seed. Students practice using various criteria to evaluate websites.

Lesson Seeds: Multiple Means of Representation

Seed 1

Reintroduce blogging to students using the resources from the “Edublog’s Teacher Challenge Links to an external site.”

”YouTube” Links to an external site. How to Write a Quality Comment! Links to an external site.

“Common Craft” Links to an external site.Blogs in Plain English Links to an external site. Links to an external site.

“Langwitches Blog Implementing Blogging in the Classroom Links to an external site.”

Seed 2

You may use “KidBlog Links to an external site.” to create student blogs.

Seed 3

Use “Edmodo Links to an external site.” or Canvas to connect, publish, and share work.

Seed 4

“ReadWriteThink Audience, Purpose, and Language Use in Electronic Messages Links to an external site.” - This lesson is for grades 6-8, but can be adapted for 5th grade. The lesson focuses on e-mail exchanges, but you can focus on chatting. Students can collaborate on a Google Document and use its chat feature to share questions, comments, and suggestions with each other about the assigned topic. (Note: Make sure you encourage students to use the chat feature instead of using face to face communication.)

For more practice with chatting or instant messaging: During instruction, students could be asking you questions and commenting on new learning through a backchannel chatroom like “Chatzy Links to an external site.” or within a Google document.

Have a discussion about the differences between using “KidBlog Links to an external site.”,“Twitter Links to an external site. and “Insta Links to an external site.gram” to share information (updates). Create a Technology “Twitter Links to an external site.” account and have students share ideas on what to share with parents about what is happening in your classroom. Or create an account with “Twiducate Links to an external site.” to give students real practice with using social media in a secure environment (microblogging).

Seed 5

“No to Bullies Links to an external site.” - In this lesson, instead of using Inspiration to brainstorm ideas about ways to handle bullies, students can work in small groups using one of the collaborative tools like “Padlet Links to an external site.”, “Answer Garden Links to an external site.”, “Bubbl.us Links to an external site.” to share ideas. Later in the lesson, students can use a Google Presentation to make a class presentation about their new learning.

Seed 6

“Down the Drain: How Much Water Do You Use? Links to an external site.” Students can collect, record, and analyze data using a Google Spreadsheet or Form. While completing this project, students decide which tool(s) would be an efficient way to collect data. Students share their data with other students across the country on the website.

Seed 7

“Our Changing Chesapeake Links to an external site.”

Students can use Google Documents or Spreadsheets to enter and share information about the task problem. The end product can be a Google Presentation, video PSA, or a glog Links to an external site..

Seed 8

During the Simulated Congressional Hearings, create a testimony template using Google Documents. Share the template with each unit group. Group members will draft, edit, and revise the testimony on the single document. In the same way, you can provide students with a current event template and have students fill in the table with current events found at home and share with unit group members.

Assessment and Closure Seeds: Multiple Means of Action and Expression

Seed 1

Use “R Links to an external site.ubistar Links to an external site.” to design rubrics to evaluate a tool’s match to a given task.

Seed 2

Use exit tickets (Google Forms) to assess students’ understanding of concepts.

Seed 3

Critique the collaborative qualities of an exemplary published work.

Seed 4

After the students’ presentations, hold a brief discussion of the different ways students collaborated to complete a project. Also, discuss the tools’ efficiency and match to the task. Ask groups if there is a way to increase collaboration among group members.

Seed 5

Publish a group project independently.

Additional Activities and Resources

Student Facing Modules

Choosing Collaborative Tools Overview (Preview Module | Import from Commons)

Modifications

Extensions

Feedback

As always we appreciate feedback from our technology teachers on these documents in terms of format and content. If you have any suggestions for future changes please be sure to visit our feedback form below.

weblink icon Instructional Technology Feedback Form Links to an external site.

Save