District:CatskillMiddle School –CatskillCentralSchool District

School/District Representative:Jennifer Leibowitz

SLO Project Name: Physical science 8th grade blackboard student web site

Authored by:Jennifer Leibowitz

E-mail:

Homepage address:

Login information:

Username: science8cats

Password: science8cats

Grade Level(s):8th grade

Subject Area(s):Physical Science

Learning context:N/A

Actual Learning Standards Referenced: (taken from SED publication)

The web site addresses many learning standards from the 5-8 science core curriculum as published by SED. The blackboard web site that I have designed is used regularly by my students and parents and therefore has multiple units contained within it. I have chosen to cite some general learning standards as they apply to science, inquiry, and technology and will not cite the specific science learning standards to each unit.

Standard 1: Analysis, Inquiry, and Design

Standard 2: Information Systems. Students will access, generate, process, and communicate information as a tool to enhance learning.

Standard 4: The physical setting

Performance Indicators: (taken from SED publication)– Examples of some of the performance indicators are taken directly from standard 4: The physical setting.

Key idea 2, performance indicator 2.1 – Explain how the hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere interact, evolve, and change.

Key idea 2, performance indicator 2.2 – Describe volcano and earthquake patterns, the rock cycle, weather, and climate changes.

Key idea 4, performance indicator 4.1 – Describe the sources and identify the transformations of energy observed in everyday life.

Assessments:Students are not assessed through the blackboard web site. This web site is a regularly used resource in my classroom for both students and parents. However, students can access all class notes, assignments, and labs through the various units and assignments tabs.

Student Outcomes(Exemplars):The expected student outcomes for this web site are to increase the level of resources my students have to draw on when they are outside of my classroom.

Procedure:Students have a generic username and password. A link to the blackboard web site has been made available from:

Students enter through the announcements page; from this page they may access any of the units or assignments sections. Students know that all class notes are organized by unit; notes may be browsed or downloaded as needed. There is not a specific order that they are instructed to navigate through however students are familiar with the layout of the site and know that the most recent units will be found closer to the bottom of the navigation bar. I have attached at the end this document a copy of the letter that was sent to parents when the blackboard web site launched in mid December.

Specific inquiry/activity:There are several inquiry activities found on the web site. For example: lab exercises, volcano web search, astronomers biography web search, planet fact finder, alternative energy presentation to name just a few.

Instructional Modifications:N/A

Time Required:The initial population of the web site with material took approximately 5 hours. I spend one hour/week to keep the web site(s) (I have also added a 7th grade life science web site) updated with current material, and an updated class calendar.

Resources (materials):

Web sites referenced:Online Earth Science textbook link:

I have recently acquired an online version to the 8th grade physical science book. The web site address is available from the announcements page of the blackboard site.

Reflections:This was an excellent experience, I love the flexibility that blackboard gives me. Parent, student, and administrative feedback has been very positive; I plan on continuing the web sites next year but intend to take advantage of more resources that blackboard has to offer such as the online assessments and the gradebook.

December 14, 2006

Dear students & parents,

I am sending this letter to announce the completion of a science class web site, created through blackboard, for both my 7th grade life science and 8th grade physical science classes. This web site is accessible through the Catskill school district web site:

You will need to click on the link, “Click here to access Mrs. Leibowitz’s website.”

You will be taken to theblackboard website and prompted to enter both your username and password;

I have created a different username/password for the two grade levels.

7th grade web site:

password/username: science7cats/science7cats

8th grade web site

password/username: science8cats/science8cats

You will enter the site at a page titled “announcements.” This page will contain general class calendar information as well as a study tip of the week. Once there you can navigate through several different pages, for example:

  1. Assignments Page ~ This page will contain brief written descriptions and links to assignments done either in class or as homework for the current quarter. These assignments can be downloaded or printed as needed.
  2. There will also be page links, found below the assignments tab, that link the user to the main units that have or will be covered in class. Within these pages you will be able to browse, download, or print as needed class notes and/or PowerPoint presentations.
  3. There is a page titled, Mrs. Leibowitz. My contact information can be found there.

Additional pages will be added as needed. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Regards,
Mrs. Leibowitz