Social Networking and Community Building Project
Frankenstein: Thematic Unit & Social Networking Tools Integration
The purpose of this unit is to introduce the history and purpose of science through reading of the story of Victor Frankenstein (by Marry Shelley.) Also, this unit aims to facilitate students as they develop their own stance and critical thinking regarding certain scientific discoveries.
* This particular unit was designed for ESL college level students (lower intermediate and intermediate levels), but can also be adopted for native English speakers.
In addition, one of the important components of this unit will be integrating social networking tools such as:
1. Twitter for education
2. MixedInk
3. Facebook
Timeframe: 8 weeks.
The Process:
Step I.
1. Teacher initiates a discussion to activate students' prior knowledge and define their stance on scientific experiments and discoveries (for or against?)2. Teacher assigns teams of three students.
3. Teacher refers students to Facebook pages such as ScienceNow, Science, ScienceIsAwesome, ScienceChannel, and ScienceMuseum.
4. Students work in teams and explore the listed above Facebook pages for scientific events and discussions.
5. Each team completes a handout.
6. Each team shares its stance on the scientific project of their choice and supports with arguments.
7. Each team composes 1-2 questions to ask experts.
8. Each team identifies an expert among those publishing or participating in Facebook discussions.
9. Each team posts its questions to the FB forums and reports the answers back to class.
Step II.
1. Students start on reading the story (approximately 2-3 chapters per week.)
2. An equal number of teams is assigned a Twitter account. Each team is also assigned either the role of the Monster or Frankenstein.
3. Upon reading each chapter, each team 1) twits a summary and 2) twits a comment/status on behalf of their character (what they believe the character would have posted himself.)
4. Each time engages into a dialogue between the characters.
5. Teacher organizes activities around the students' twitter activities in class on a weekly basis. Students support their opinions.
Step III.
1. Each team writes a collaborative Essay to be posted on the class page created in MixedInk.com.
2. Each team publishes its findings on various scientific projects (see Step I) on the page created in MixedInk.com.
Step IV.
1. Students work will be published in the school's newsletter.
Step I.
1. Teacher initiates a discussion to activate students' prior knowledge and define their stance on scientific experiments and discoveries (for or against?)2. Teacher assigns teams of three students.
3. Teacher refers students to Facebook pages such as ScienceNow, Science, ScienceIsAwesome, ScienceChannel, and ScienceMuseum.
4. Students work in teams and explore the listed above Facebook pages for scientific events and discussions.
5. Each team completes a handout.
6. Each team shares its stance on the scientific project of their choice and supports with arguments.
7. Each team composes 1-2 questions to ask experts.
8. Each team identifies an expert among those publishing or participating in Facebook discussions.
9. Each team posts its questions to the FB forums and reports the answers back to class.
Step II.
1. Students start on reading the story (approximately 2-3 chapters per week.)
2. An equal number of teams is assigned a Twitter account. Each team is also assigned either the role of the Monster or Frankenstein.
3. Upon reading each chapter, each team 1) twits a summary and 2) twits a comment/status on behalf of their character (what they believe the character would have posted himself.)
4. Each time engages into a dialogue between the characters.
5. Teacher organizes activities around the students' twitter activities in class on a weekly basis. Students support their opinions.
Step III.
1. Each team writes a collaborative Essay to be posted on the class page created in MixedInk.com.
2. Each team publishes its findings on various scientific projects (see Step I) on the page created in MixedInk.com.
Step IV.
1. Students work will be published in the school's newsletter.
Resources:
Using Twitter for Education
Using Twitter for Education