District/School Administration PK-16 Program Support Educational Technology
Technology Toolkit

Coming to America
Mendon-Upton Regional School District

Evidence of Effectiveness

Instructional objective: Students will be able to recognize the contributions made by various immigrants, discuss Ellis Island and reasons immigrants came to America, and research and document their own family histories.

Evaluation: Ongoing evaluation was a key component in this unit project. The teachers established criteria and expectations with a set of rubrics for each of the activities (http://www.mu-regional.k12.ma.us/knowledgenotjustinfo.htm#rubrics). The teachers observed students in the classroom and in the technology lab and also studied the quality of their projects, writing, technology skills, communication skills, presentation skills, and observed how well this project successfully incorporated cooperative learning in the classroom and in the technology lab.

Student improvement: Integrating technology into this unit enhanced students' motivation to learn and their enthusiasm to become actively involved in their learning. The interactive Immigration slide show included graphics, video, sound, activities, and other interactive multimedia modes. The students watched video clips and viewed photographs telling the story. Using sound files the students heard music and songs and listened to the voices of the immigrants' experience. The students worked in groups, participated in an online quiz, and produced technology-rich products about what they learned. These students were motivated and excited to demonstrate their understanding.

< Learning Standards      Contact Information >