Reflective+Portfolio

=Latin II Mythology Project =

Elements of the Project
 1. Lesson Plan 

 2. Summary of Project and Student Samples Mythology Project Page Including Student Samples

For this project, students create their own mythological stories based on a previous study of mythology and the function of mythological stories. The stories must include characters, plot, and the intervention of a god or gods. Most importantly the stories must demonstrate a function that would make sense in an ancient society.

 3. Collected Forms for student approval to use in portfolio

NETS-S
 1. Creativity and Innovation

 Students construct a new and creative myth based on previous learning using technology. The original myth created serves as a reflection of their view on myths function in society.

 2. Communication and Collaboration

 Students work collaboratively in and out of class to construct the myth. They present the myth both digitally and personally, telling the story to reflect how myths have been shared throughout history and how the means of sharing is imperative to performing its societal function.

 3. Research and Information Fluency

 Students choose from a variety of digital storytelling formats. They evaluate various tools and identify which one is appropriate for their project.

 4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making

 Students manage their own project completion both individually and collaboratively. Students must first consider the functions of myths in society and work backwards to create a story to serve that function. They must plan the story elements and project construction to effectively relate the function of the myth.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 5. Digital Citizenship

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Students practice digital citizenship by employing safety and responsibility in constructing their project digitally. Students must appropriately document were needed and prepare their project for the learning environment.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 6. Technology Operations and Concepts

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Students individually select their presentation tool with little to no introduction or tutorial. They must use their previous understanding of technology and experiment with the features of each tool to determine which is most appropriate for their presentation.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">NETS-T
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 105%;">1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Throughout this project, I model how to use the technology to tell the story. I also encourage the students to be as creative as possible and to extend beyond their current understanding of how to use the technology. I encourage them to think about how people have communicated these stories throughout history and how forms of communicating have changed.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 105%;">2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 105%;">For this project, I provides students with various options and allow them to explore their most effective way to complete their presentation. I provide students with enough help that they can be successful with the technology and still complete the project in their own individual way.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 105%;">3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

I provide a digital model of how to relate a myth using modern resources. I also clearly explain the function of the myth and allow them to experiment with various other possible functions of myths.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 105%;">4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

I encourage students to be safe and ethical in their presentations and demonstrate proper digital citizenship depending on each students specific needs.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 105%;">5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

I have shared this project with various coworkers in an effort to improve the effectiveness of the project. Previously the project did not involve technology at all and has greatly improved since the addition of technological elements.

=Reflection of the Activity=

I have had students complete a variation of this project since my first year teaching. I feel that it is a very important element of my curriculum that students should understand the motivation, value, and function of mythological stories in enhancing the culture of a society. So much can be learned about a culture by the stories that they pass along to their descendants. Since this is such an important aspect of the lesson, I feel that I must constantly remind students to focus on the function of their myth. Some students tend to get carried away in the storytelling and forget the connection to the curriculum.

Using technology to complete this project greatly enhances the quality of work that the students produce. Previously students would create a poster, storyboard, or story book to tell their stories. Often students would gear their stories to fit the pictures that they found in magazines, etc. Now that I use technology for this project, I feel that students no longer feel limited by their resources. Students first create their stories and then use the technology to relate their original story with little to no adaptation due to limited resources. I find that students are more likely to focus on the function of the myth since the technology allows them to expand their ideas instead of limit their creativity.

Before using technology, I used to adapt this project every year in an effort to improve the quality of student work. Over the past two years using technology, I did not find the need to adapt the project. I received excellent student work over both years. The only issue that I had this past year was a change in some of the Web 2.0 products. Since these resources are free, they are changed and adapted regularly. This year one resource limited the length of the produced video for all "free" accounts. Most likely I will have to suggest a different Web 2.0 tool next year that does not have this limitation. However, I should be able to continue using these tools as long as the large supply of free resources exist.