Rationale:
We chose to focus our technology effort on developing the skills of our students in using technology for research and production.  We developed several lessons in which the students used online sources to research topics and then produce “authentic” projects based on their research.
 

Technology:
Dell Optiplex PC’s with MS Word, Powerpoint or Appleworks software. “A More Perfect Union” simulation software.  Apple iMac’s with MS Word, Powerpoint or Appleworks software.  Internet access via LAN
 

Overview of lessons:
Five of our projects were undertaken with 10th grade US History students.  Students worked in teams to compete in a “Tournament” to determine what invention from the late 19th and early 20th Centuries students thought was the most important.  Our next project was again with partners.  Students created scrapbooks chronicling the fictional journey of a family of immigrants.  For our Progressive Unit, students worked in groups of 3 or 4 to create newspapers reflecting the muckraking style of the period.  For Imperialism, students worked individually to complete an Imperialism WebQuest created by a teacher at Davison HS.  Our last US History project has students working individually again, to find and analyze two primary source documents from WWI.  Students use analysis sheets from the National Archives to evaluate their sources and then write two letters describing the conditions on the frontlines and on the home front.  In American Government, students worked with partners to complete a Senate campaign simulation, “A More Perfect Union”, created by the Virginia Center for Politics.   Students worked as campaign managers to make decisions for the last 10 weeks of a campaign based on polling and news information.