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Newsletter

Table of Contents:
Making Connections
Curriculum Superstars
Time to Shine
Luau Laughs :) :) :)
Sara Joiner
Darrin Peschka
Kaman Au
Santa Clara Day School
JavaScript is Fun!

Curriculum Superstars

A small but dedicated group of participants completed the curriculum course at the Four Directions Summer Institute. The three-credit course was entitled Advanced Curriculum Development Through Technology, Project-Based Learning. The course required participants to design complete project-based units that they would actually teach in their classes. The unit had to include an overall plan, objectives and standards, hand-outs for students, support strategies for students during the project, and assessment instruments. In addition, each participant had to create a model technology-based product to show students what the final product might look like.

Seven students took the challenge: Will Bill, Jr. and Sherri Foreman from Muckleshoot; Patti Morin and Becky Nutt from Oneida; Ralph Reed and Richard from Haskell, and Jeannine VanderPol from Marty. The projects were outstanding. The most popular type of project was oral history, perhaps reflecting the fact that we had so many wonderful elders present at the Summer Institute. The last night we had a Celebration of Learning, with each student demonstrating the model project for the unit and receiving constructive feedback from the other participants.

A special note should be added about Patti Morin. Patti has completed the course three times: (1) the basic thematic curriculum course for three credit hours graduate credit, (2) the thematic course with a different theme for three credit hours Oneida credit, and (3) the advanced, project-based course. What a trooper!

Nancy Allen