UNIT PLANS

Subject : Web Essentials
Topic : Anatomy 101 : Parts of a web page
Grade : 9

Objective : Students should understand that they can communicate their knowledge of a topic effecively in the form of a web site. In order to communicate effectively through a web site, the web site must be well designed. Students achieve an understanding of a well designed web site by identifying the building blocks of a web page, knowing the programming language to display the parts of a web page, and understanding the design principles of an effective web page.

Subject : Advanced Web Development
Topic : Web enterprise and work-based learning
Grade : 10+

Objective : Students apply their advanced web skills and gain work force skills by building a web site for an assigned client. Students work in design teams for a client (clients can be real or fake!), are assigned roles and duties and follow the evaluation, planning and production process outlined for them in the web quest. The unit culminates in a final team presentation to a panel of industry experts and a networking breakfast/lunch with IT professionals, students, their clients, and professors. For the TEACHER INTRO including Syllabus and Unit Plan, click here.

LESSON PLANS

Subject : Web Essentials
Topic : Internet research and bibliography
Grade : 9

Objective : Students will understand that not all information on the internet is accurate, and that there are strategies for
authenticating web sites. Students will learn how to evaluate the authenticity of a web site. Students will learn how to
use search engines and Boolean logic to find information on the web. Students will gain knowledge of how to cite an
internet source in the MLA format. Students will use an online bibliography maker to cite their sources. Students will understand the
meaning of the copyright law and the public domain. Students will submit a PowerPoint presentation of the information
and citations they gathered and be scored on the accuracy and completeness of the project.

Subject : Web Essentials
Topic : What makes a good web site? What makes a bad one?
Grade : 9

Objective : Students will understand how to evaluate the content, functionality, look and feel, and layout of a web site. Students
will learn visual arts vocabulary appropriate for evaluating web sites. Students will understand the importance of using
images and color that relate to the purpose and target audience of the web site. Students will understand that web site
evaluation is subjective and dependent on the target audience and purpose as well as the designer. Students will be able to recognize the layout of a web site and understand the value of repetition and consistency. Students will understand the importance of accurate spelling and grammar and the use of contrasting colors to ease the reading of text. Students will understand the importance of citing sources and giving credit to the content in a web site to improve authenticity. Students will submit an evaluation exercise and be scored on the thoughtfulness and completeness of the assignment.

research

Web Site Functionality and the Learning Community (May, 2004)

Web sites for K12 schools serve multiple functions within a learning community. School web sites function as both a showcase of the teaching and learning accomplished in the school's community, as well as a tool to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom. Using the systems approach, I explore my role as a web developer in the expansion of a school's learning community online. Read my research and view the design.

Web Development and Accessibility (May, 2005)

Universal design on the web is relative to the web developer, the end-user, and the devices used to access the web site. In my research I explore these key questions : What is an accessible web site? Why is it important? What does it afford a web developer? What does it afford the end-user? How is a web site made accessible? and What can be done to increase accessibility on the web? View my presentation.

CURRICULUM DESIGNS

Media Seminar : Moving Images and Moving Forward (September, 2005 - June, 2006)
course web site : http://www.techbostonacademy.org/staff/lradden/mediaseminar/
curriculum : http://tbamediaseminar.blogspot.com/

I co-taught and developed a semester-long course to juniors and seniors at TechBoston Academy. Students studied the history and influence of media, and the impact of technology on media messages. Students created public service announcements using video production techniques, transformed images using Flash, and addressed ethical issues in publications done in Photoshop. Students blogged their reactions to media and to the discussions we had in class. While teaching the course in the fall, I maintained a course web site, and recorded our weekly lesson plans using blogger.com.

Teen Voices (January - March, 2006)

I provided curriculum development and training to TEEN Voices , the magazine published for and by teenage girls. Women Express, Inc. offers a variety of programs, works with girls world-wide in after school programs, and publishes the Teen Voices magazine. I was hired to adapt the WiredWoods curriculum to fit the needs of the Teen Voices after school program. The three projects were designed to teach teen girls how to make an online version of their magazine. I delivered a schedule of weekly objectives, detailed lesson plans, and sample projects for Teen Voices.
( Sample Lesson Plans )

Project 165 : Living the Standards (January - August, 2005)

I worked with a focus group of six teachers in the development of a standards-based Boston Public High School web design course guide. The goals of the course guide are to (a) standardize web course offerings in the BPS (b) solidify ways of teaching web development (c) align courses to accreditation with local colleges, and to (d) increase “community wealth." Additionally, I developed a professional development model to train teachers in the use of the curriculum.

WiredWoods (June, 2003 - July, 2005)

I consulted on the development of the WiredWoods curriculum for distribution to in-school, after-school, and summer programs. The WiredWoods curriculum features seven projects in digital photography, image editing, web development, and animation. Additionally, I built a companion CD and web site for training in the use of the curriculum.