Needs Analysis

Every student in my 4th and 5th grade technology classes are involved in the collaborative projects, therefore part of my test group.

Due to the overwhelming standards and benchmarks that need to be met by elementary class room teachers, United States geography is being put on the back burner.

Students are unable to identify the state that surround their home state or discern the fifty U.S. states.

Students need to know their countrys' states for many reasons; comprehending current events, U.S. history, grasping the diversity of our U.S. citizens, and in my student's case, being able to communicate with students from other states while working on collaborative projects with some understanding from where they reside.

	Learning U.S. Geography Through the Use of Technology
Home Needs Analysis Instructional Goals Instructional Strategies Instructional Plan Formative Evaluation Teacher	Needs Assessment Analysis Report Overview Fourth and fifth grade students at Eastiside school reside in a small rural community. Many of these students have not traveled outside of their home town or state. Their knowledge of United States geography is poor. Due to the fact that my classes are working on many collaborative projects with schools from all over the world including the United States, I feel that it is important that my students learn World geography starting with the United States. Learning United States geography will help them feel more connected to the other schools and give them back-ground knowledge that will help them better appreciate the diversity amongst students. This will allow my students to gain more fully the benefits and rewards of colloaborative projects. Data Collection Testing the student's U.S. geographical knowledge, through playing various online U.S. games. Example collected data that represented the student's deficiencies.Verbal questioning of students and students presenting me with geographical questions contributed to my data collecting. An online poll posted on my web page was also a great source of data. Sorces of Data Every student in my 4th and 5th grade technology classes are involved in the collaborative projects, therefore part of my test group. Conclusion Due to the overwhelming standards and benchmarks that need to be met by elementary class room teachers, United States geography is being put on the back burner. Students are unable to identify the state that surround their home state or discern the fifty U.S. states. Students need to know their countrys' states for many reasons; comprehending current events, U.S. history, grasping the diversity of our U.S. citizens, and in my student's case, being able to communicate with students from other states while working on collaborative projects with some understanding from where they reside. Recommendation Incorporate geography in every technology lesson. Place United States and World maps in the vicinity of learning. Set achievable geographical goals to be accomplished at the end of the school year for all of my 4th and 5th grade students. Work with "Where in the World is Carmen San Diego U.S.A. " software. Incorporate geography in our daily blog. Provide students with a geography center, which includes puzzles, games and coloring pictures to be used at lunch time, recess or before school, upon permission of Mrs. Smith. Develop take home work that encourages parent participation. My technology club will begin pin pointing all e-pal and e-mail communications on a mounted map in our school's office. Make a web page dedicated to geography games connected to my existing web page. Encourage class room teachers to include as many geographical references in their lesson plans. Encourage class room teachers to prompt their students to complete and turn in my geography assignments. Assess students on a regular basis using various means of assessing: Quia, puzzles, games, BrainPop and virtual field trips.

Incorporate geography in every technology lesson.

Place United States and World maps in the vicinity of learning.

Set achievable geographical goals to be accomplished at the end of the school year for all of my 4th and 5th grade students.

Work with "Where in the World is Carmen San Diego U.S.A. " software.

Incorporate geography in our daily blog.

Provide students with a geography center, which includes puzzles, games and coloring pictures to be used at lunch time, recess or before school, upon permission of Mrs. Smith.

Develop take home work that encourages parent participation.

My technology club will begin pin pointing all e-pal and e-mail communications on a mounted map in our school's office.

Make a web page dedicated to geography games connected to my existing web page.

Encourage class room teachers to include as many geographical references in their lesson plans.

Encourage class room teachers to prompt their students to complete and turn in my geography assignments.

Assess students on a regular basis using various means of assessing: Quia, puzzles, games, BrainPop and virtual field trips.

Learning U.S. Geography Through the Use of Technology

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