Performance Based Learning Projects
Performance Based Learning ProjectsPerformance Based Learning Projects are integrated into the Cyber High curriculum and available to workbook students from the Projects page. The purpose of these projects is to provide students with the opportunity to learn subject matter through problem solving real-world activities using web 2.0 technologies. For example, students may be asked to create a website, wiki, or blog, about a subject they select from a list of topics that pertain to the information they learned in that unit. Many times students have the ability to select the medium they wish to use to complete the assignment and the topic they wish to research. Topic mediums include websites, wikis, blogs, stories, presentations, sketches, podcasts, and videos.
Performance Based Learning Projects are collaborative in nature. School administrators can choose to restrict specific mediums from use by students within the school, and/or restrict the amount of collaboration that is allowed. Teachers, also have the ability to restrict projects and specific mediums on a per student basis, but cannot override the preferences set by the school administrator.
There are three elements to Performance Based Learning Projects that include the digital literacy elements that are associated with each project, the specific topics that are available for students to choose from, and the tool or medium students wish to use to complete the projects.
Collaborative projects do not display until the student clicks on the Submit for Grading option. Students names or not displayed to other students. Instead, student tag names and their avatars will display. If a tag name has not been created by the student the word anonymous will display instead. However, teachers at the students school will be able to see the students full name and any projects or comments made by their students.
Projects and comments are filtered for language and
can be tagged for inappropriate content. Students, please be responsible
when participating in these projects.
Actions
up to and including the use of inappropriate language, content, or behavior
could result in expulsion from the Cyber High program.
Each Project page, within a course, contains a digital literacy element designed to teach students how to research and to use internet technologies effectively, responsibly, and safely. Many of the digital literacy elements include at least one video that was created by Common Sense Media, a leader in digital literacy programs, and a brief explanation of the digital literacy concept being addressed.
Return to top
Most projects contain a Topic drop down that allows students to determine the subject matter they wish to use to complete their project. This provides students with an opportunity to increase their learning of specific content matter that is interesting or relevant to them. For example, a student in American Government studying the civil rights movement has several topic options to choose from when creating their project including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Black Panthers, John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, or Rosa Parks.
Return to top
Most projects contain a number of different project types or mediums that students can select from when creating their projects. For example, a student in Choices for Life studying about the bullying may elect to create a video about the effects of bullying on students at their school, another student may choose to create a podcast in which they interview their school counselor, and the third student may elect to create a blog in which they post information about bullying that other students comment on about their experiences. This provides students a greater opportunity to engage in the content.
The following mediums are available:
Many projects within a unit require you to conduct research as the first step in the project. The student can complete the research online or through their local library. The research project is not collaborative or graded.
To use the research tool:
Select the Topic,
if applicable, that you wish to use to create your project.
Click on Save
Choices.
Click on the Add New Entry button in the Research Table to enter information about a source that you found while researching your topic. Each time you locate a source that is of interest add the source by clicking on the Add New Entry button. Think of this process as building a Bibliography for your project. As with a bibliography you need to add key information to the grid, this will help you find this information later when performing your project.
The research grid, including all of the entries, will display on each Project page within the unit.
A blog is similar to an online editorial column in the Newspaper. Blogs are typically more than just informational. They often include the author's point of a view about a topic and are written less formally then a Newspaper article. Blogs are collaborative in that other students may view your blog entry - called a post, and comment on it. After creating a blog check back often to read comments left by other students and teachers.
Select the blog from the Project
Type drop down and click on Save.
Enter a name for the blog and your
blog post in the space provided.
You may elect to add text, images, and/or video to your blog using
the options in the text editor. When adding an image or a video
you must upload the file before you can add to your blog. Click
here for information on how to upload a file.
Click on the Save
Post button.
To edit an existing post click on
the Edit button and follow
step 2-3 above.
To view the blog in full screen mode
click on the View Full
Blog button.
This will open a new window for users on a desktop computer and in
a new tab on a tablet.
When you have completed the blog
click on the Submit for Grading button.
Teachers and other students cannot view the blog until it has been
submitted for grading.
Check your blog often to view and respond to comments left by other students.
Return to top
A wiki is a collaborative online encyclopedia that can be edited and viewed by a multitude of people. Cyber High wikis are only viewable by users with a Cyber High username and password.
Select the wiki option from the Project Type drop down and click
on Save.
Enter a name for the wiki or select
an existing wiki from the Wiki
grid.
To begin editing the wiki click on
the Open Wiki Editor button.
There are several options available
to you in the toolbar. Click here
for information on how to use the elements in the toolbar.
If you are adding to an existing
wiki you can click on the Highlight
Contributors button to highlight the information that has been
added by you and by other students.
When you have completed the wiki
close the editor.
Your contributions to the wiki will be viewable to other Cyber High students and to your teacher upon selecting the Submit for Grading button.
Return to top
Cyber High students can create a website viewable by other Cyber High users. Creating a website does not require technical skill; however, if you choose to create a website you may want to research website design online to make your website user-friendly.
Select the website option from the
Project Type drop down and
click on Save.
Enter a name for the website and
click on Save
To begin editing the website click
on the Open Website Editor button.
There are several options available
to you in the toolbar. Click here
for information on how to use the elements in the toolbar.
To view or add pages to the website
click on the View Website Page List
link located in the top right corner of the page.
Click on the New
Page button to add a new page to your website.
After
adding a page you can edit the name by clicking on the pencil icon
or delete it by clicking on the trash can. Click on the page name
to edit that page in the website editor.
When you have completed your website
close the editor, all of your changes are automatically saved as your
building the site.
Your website will be viewable to other Cyber High students and to your teacher upon selecting the Submit for Grading button.
Return to top
The story options enables students to create a story about their chosen project topic. This story can be viewed and commented on by other students.
To create a story:
Select the story option from the
Project Type drop down and
click on Save.
Enter a name for the story and click
on Save.
Select the Open
Story Editor button to begin adding content to the story. You
may enter text or images. Click here for information
on how to use the elements in the toolbar.
Click
on the "+" icon to add a new page. Be sure to enter an even
number of pages so that the back of the book closes properly.
When you have completed your story
close the story tool.
Your story will be viewable to other Cyber High students and to your teacher upon selecting the Submit for Grading button.
Return to top
Using the podcast or song tool you can upload a previously created audio file into Cyber High. Likewise, using the video option you can also upload previously created videos. Files that you upload may not display correctly in all browsers. Cyber High automatically converts audio and video files to formats that will play in all supported browsers.
Cyber High supports the following audio file types for upload:
.mp3, .mov, and .oga formats.
Cyber High supports the following video file types for upload:
.mp3, .ogv, .avi. and .mov formats.
To upload an audio, podcast, or video file:
Select the appropriate option from
the Project Type drop down
and click on Save.
Enter a name for the project and
click on Save.
Select the Open
Editor button. Click here for instructions
on uploading a file.
When you listened to your audio,
or watched and listened to your video and are satisfied with the results
click on the Submit for Grading button.
Once a project is submitted for grading other students will have the ability to view and comment on the project.
Return to top
The presentation option enables you to create a presentation that can be viewed by you or by your teacher.
To create a presentation:
Select the presentation option from
the Project Type drop down
and click on Save.
Enter a name for the presentation
and click on Save.
Select the Open
Presentation Editor button to begin adding content to the presentation.
You may enter text or images. Click here for
information on how to use the elements in the toolbar.
Click
on the "+" icon to add a new page to your presentation.
When you have completed the presentation
close the tool.
Your presentation will be viewable to other Cyber High students and to your teacher upon selecting the Submit for Grading button.
Return to top