I will design a lesson plan to teach a class of 15 learners how to create a Google Map for family members who are visiting from out of town. I will divide the class into three groups:
- Group 1 – Using a web 2.0 tool, will research and create a list of the top 10 restaurants in the area. (recommended tools: Yelp or Urbanspoon)
- Group 2 - Using web 2.0 tools, will research 5 attractions and take or find picture of each one. (recommend using Picassa for photos)
- Group 3 – Using Google Maps, will incorporate content from groups 1&2 to create Google Map for family.
This lesson will incorporate Connectivism, Project Based Learning and elements of Constructivism.
Tony, I really like your idea for your final project. It gets the learners to investigate their ideas, use Web2.0 tools to create and see their ideas come to fruition, and it employs collaboration.
I am implementing something similar with a work project. The team doesn’t necessarily need to use a Web2.0 tool, but each smaller group has to research information, pull their ideas together and put together one presentation that represents the findings of the team as a whole.
Tony, I think this a great idea for your lesson. This seems like something that could be used in the classroom or in a business world. Will they get to choose the town in which they are researching? I think back to when I was in high school and I we did a similar project in a FBLA class and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
Thank you for your comment, Eric. I’m using part of the project for another class as well. We have to design an online training program for a fictitious hotel chain and I’m using the map as an exercise for front desk agents to learn about the area so they can answer guests’ questions about restaurants and attractions. This could be a great activity for students in the Spring to research restaurants and attractions for a place where they’ll vacation in the summer. I’m sorry, I’m not sure what an FBLA is? What did you do for your project?