Collaboration

=**Collaboration**= **Incorporating Collaboration**
 * How will you facilitate an authentic collaborative learning experience to promote deeper student engagement with content skills and concepts?

The authentic collaboration learning experience will involve the integration of economics which is a part of the social studies curriculum. It will also involve the integration of math with students learning about needs, wants and savings. Students will began to develop an understanding the difference between needs and wants, as students participate in cooperative groups through a simple kidblog. At the end of the unit, students will collectively engage in researching and developing a presentation on powerpoint.


 * As members of collaborative groups, how will you support students’ efforts to identify solutions to the problem you are using as the framework for your PBL instructional unit?

I plan to support my students’ efforts of working collaboratively by providing stories online, websites, critical thinking questions and graphic organizers. Students will use strategies of real-life to make connections of the topic, research reviewed and background knowledge. The websites and stories will allow students to understand the concepts of needs and wants. Students will also learn the value of saving.
 * What criteria will you use to assign learners to collaborative groups, including a rationale? What will be the size of the collaborative groups you will include in your unit?

In my Multi-Age class, the students learning styles and levels are differentiated from average first graders to focus/gifted kindergarteners. I have 20 students in the class. Out of the 20 students, 9 are kindergarten focus students, 1 is a kindergartener who had not attended school before the other 10 are grade level first grade students. Differentiation will be essential for my students’ successfully understanding the concept and producing a creative powerpoint. I will suggest dividing students into kindergarten/first grade pairs.
 * Which digital tools and websites are you considering for collaboration in your unit?

Students will utilize the class [|Kidblog] to work together on their findings at school and away from school. On the class blog students will create their buddy/group blog to connect their findings and support information back to their peers. Besides using the blog, I will also have websites that have videos and activities such as [|BrainPop] so students can identify place that satisfy needs and wants, and ways to save and spend money. Some sites that will be used for references: [] [] [] [] []

===I will assess students in their paired collaborative groups will be by using a rubric to track how they participate and respond to questions on the blog. An explanation of the rubric will be stated and given to all students. There will also be a check list rubric so students will understand what is expected of them during the unit.===
 * How will you assess participation of the students in their collaborative groups?
 * **Blog Discussion Rubric: 10 points** ||  ||
 * Response to questions demonstrates understanding of the standards and learning materials. || 3 points ||
 * Responses show a demonstration of critical thinking about the reading materials and websites. || 3 points ||
 * Responses are on time. || 2 points ||
 * Response to classmate || 2 points ||
 * Story and Activity Rubric: 5 points **
 * Story and Activity Rubric: 5 points **
 * Story and Activity Rubric: 5 points **

Respond to questions correctly to all 5 questions correctly to show understanding reading material 2 points

Complete worksheet of making choices 3 points

Completion of presentation with understanding of needs and wants 5 points Presentation of powerpoint both members speaking and material presented 5 points
 * Collaboration and Presentation Rubric: **