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TIPS for Science

Technology Integration Projects for Students (TIPS) for Science was the first project in the Models component of the Project M3. The task was to develop PreK-12 models of technology integration, using as the focus of the activities the new text adoptions for the Wichita Public Schools (USD 259) and the district science standards. 

The planning team, which included technology representatives from the district and the grant curriculum resource specialist, examined the International Society for Technology in Education ISTE) National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS) and decided to focus this project on three standards: technology communications tools, technology research tools, and technology problem-solving and decision-making tools.  

The Technology in Research, Analysis, Communication, Evaluation, and Resources (TRACER) Model was used to design TIPS.  Bowens (2000) described the RAC Model TM as "an instructional framework that integrates technology with curriculum standards through research, analysis, and communication skills to teach students and assess their understanding of the required curriculum." (p. 6). The planning team expanded this concept to include various technologies (T), both a student and teacher rubric for the evaluation of technology use (E), and additional resources (R) for teachers. The Technology in Research, Analysis, Communication, Evaluation and Resources (TRACER) allows (a) the development of TIPS which match with district curriculum standards and assessment strategies and (b) the cross-curricular integration of technology at all grade levels and in all subject areas.

TIPS for Health

TIPS for Health followed closely after TIPS for Science.  The planning team for this project included a district curriculum coordinator, a district technology representative, and WSU's curriculum resource specialist and Webmaster for the grant. Several years earlier the district had developed a standards-based health curriculum guide.  The decision made was to use district health standards as the driving force for the development of TIPS for Health.  

Teams of teachers and WSU students developed lesson plans that addressed the standards and included a WebQuest in each with a downloadable worksheet.  Imbedded in these activities were attempts to locate new information (research), compare information from a variety of sources (analyze), assessing student knowledge, and communicating new understandings (communicate). Several different types of WebQuests were used:  picture links to game sites, picture links to information sites, picture links to virtual field trips, instructional stories, linked worksheets, etc.  

TIPS for Social Studies

TIPS for Social Studies is the third project using WSU and school personnel to design technology integration projects for students. The planning team included a district technology coordinator, district curriculum specialist, and WSU technology and curriculum resource specialists.  The project focus was middle level social studies and activities included the use of computers, printers, Microsoft Office, Blackboard, and the internet.

Teams of teachers developed lesson plans that focused on middle level social studies topics, based in district and/or state curriculum and technology standards.  Some teams from schools included self-contained classroom teachers while others included  a social studies, a language arts teacher, and computer studies teacher.

Individuals and teams generated hotlists of Web sites associated with a topic and/or standard in their content area and/or grade level. From these hotlists a variety of lessons were developed.  Some examples include treasure hunts (internet searches for specific information from specific web sites) student generated timelines (internet searches for specific events around a topic, put in chronological order), student generated picture dictionaries (alphabetical listings of events with descriptions and photos), WebQuests ("an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the internet...[http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec596/about_webquests.html].