To get to where you want to go, you must know where you are going. In a project of this magnitude, it is easy to get lost in the small details like the tweaking of a bit of text, etc. This is also common in college.
To be successful in college, I found that if I focused on getting the bulk of the project done, I could then have time to add the fancy things at the end. And if I didn't have time to add the fancy, then I still had the project completed. We all know "idea people" who don't get anything done.
Remember, if you can understand something about this world, let it be this:
It's not about your excuse, its about what you produce.Everything you produce is on the wiki. The judges do not know how much time you've spent. They do not know how much you've done. They do not know if you attempted a grandiose video and it didn't render at the last moment -- all they know is that you didn't post it to your wiki.
The business world is a tough place. Some say it is heartless, but it is just reality based. In a flat world, it is more important than ever to be able to produce meaningful content on a timely basis.
So, here's a copy of the grading rubric as shown on the class wiki -- keep an eye on the goal.
Grading RubricGrading Rubric for Westwood Students
This project will be part of the final assessment project for Mrs. Vicki Davis' Class. It will be 20% of your grade for this grading period and is the culmination of the work covered in class thus far. You should use the information you have learned this semester, information from your book, acquired wiki skills, learned video editing skills, video recording skills, and information you have learned during class discussions and blogging assignments to complete this project. It is important that you keep in contact with your project partner everyday during the event in order to exchange ideas and collaborate on content and your approach to your given topic.
I am expecting a high standard of work and communication and collaboration skills to be shown.
Part A - Wiki Portion of Project - 100 points
An effective wiki shows the following:
- A collaborative effort (as seen in the history and discussion areas) --
Wikis are collaborative. Each person brings their strengths and contributes things that they are good at to the project.
You are expected to work with your international partner and contribute meaningful work to the wiki. Revisions either improve the editing or add additional content. You do not delete content of the other person unless that content is found to be in error. If such error is found, you are to communicate via discussion your reason for deleting the information. Each topic to be discussed will be created under a different "thread" or topic under discussions.
10 points - Did you contribute meaningful information to the wiki? Did you communicate effectively with your international partner? Did you discuss differences and resolve them effectively? Did you use the discussion area and post fact on the wiki page?
- Visual appeal
Graphics are used as needed and add to the message. Graphics are not distracting and used where needed to further explain a topic. If does not look cluttered. If a significant amount of content is added, a new page is added. (To make a new page - your page name should be the name of your project as shown in the header a dash "-" and the subtopic to be explored.)
20 points - Effective visual appeal. You must include a minimum of two graphics for your topic.
- Organization
A table of contents is used, headings and underlines are used appropriately (don't use underlines except for hyperlinks.) Additional pages are added as needed (see item 2.)
10 points - Effective Organization - Did you use headings?
- Hyperlinks to sources
An effective wiki hyperlinks sources and gives readers additional information about the topic. Because most people tend to not trust wikis (they don't know the authors), you must include a variety of hyperlinks to be considered an effective source of information. As people follow your hyperlinks, they will begin to look at the information you've linked to. They will learn that you are an authority and that you've "done your homework." Make sure that you have checked your hyperlinks and that they work.
_ 20 points - Did you hyperlink to sources? Do they work? You must have at least 10 hyperlinks on the wiki including 3 hyperlinks within this wiki project to pages of other groups as appropriate.
- Original, intelligent wording
The effective wiki summarizes information but never copies it! (Cite your sources.) The wording is intelligent and meaningful and jargon is not used. Wikis may be read by a global audience and authors must keep that in mind.
_ 10 points - Sources of information are linked to. You explain or hyperlink to items that need clarification. You do not plaigarize.
- Multi-sensory tools are used
The use of sound and/or video involves the wiki reader more through the increased engagement of hearing and sight. When it is used effectively, it can boost you into the hall of fame because you have more thoroughly taught your reader about your subject.
_ 10 points - Your video. The Westwood students will be assimilating and compiling a video on the topic.
_ 10 points - Your content for the podcast. Westwood students will be providing an mp3 file recorded in audacity and e-mailed to Mrs. Vicki on their topic. This information will be sent to your international partner for their inclusion in the podcast that they are creating. Due Date: December 1
- RSS Feeds and Cutting edge tools are used
_ 10 points An appropriate RSS feed is used. (I suggest a Google news feed on the topic.)
Part B - Content Grade - 50 points
_ 20 points Background - Do you sufficiently explain the topic? Is it understandable to a person who does not know anything about the topic and is not necessarily an expert in technology?_ 10 points Current News - Do you explain a sampling of current discussions and headlines about this topic. (This is a good place to include RSS feeds.)
_ 10 points Impact on Education - Do you effectively explain the impact of this trend on education? How should education change? What improvements should be made? What should students be studying? How should teachers instruct differently?_ 10 points Impact on Employment - Do you effetively explain the potential impact of this trend on employment? How will it impact different parts of the world? What different types of jobs will be created in your part of the world? In other parts of the world?
Part C - Video Grade - 50 points
Students in USA will be creating a video, including content from students in Bangladesh (either video and/or podcast). This video may be uploaded to Google and must be hyperlinked to the wiki. Students in Bangladesh will be forwarding a short video clip or podcast or two to Mrs. Davis via Mrs. Lindsay that must be integrated into your video. It must be at least 2 minutes long. You will use Windows movie maker to produce this video. You will work with your partner to determine whether your video will be on the educational impact or the industry impact of your trend.
10 points - Background Information - You effectively explain the trend in the video.
10 points - Content - Your content is meaningful, clear, and effective.
10 points - Cite sources - All sources of information are cited.
20 points - Video quality and editing.
Part D - Integration of Prior Learning - 50 points
This semester we have been learning about
computer safety and privacy,
the history of computing, the
IT Industry & ethics, binary numbers and memory conversion, computer hardware,
collaborative wiki projects, and
Web 2.0. Your work should reflect your knowledge of these areas that you have attained this semester.
10 points Computer Safety and Privacy
10 points The History of Computing
10 points the IT Industry & ethics
10 points Computer Hardware (knowledge of memory conversion, hardware, input, output, etc.)
10 points Web 2.0 knowledge
