Middle School - International Society for Technology in Education

ISTE-Net Middle (170 - 180 Days)

Aug - May
Stage 1 - Desired Results
Established Goals (Grade Level Expectations):
Standard

GLE

Description
Demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.

Use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.

Apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.

Use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

Understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.

Demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations.

Big Ideas:
Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Technology, Communication, Citizenship, Creativity, Research,

2013 Jeffco Public Schools

Benjamin Feigert

Page 1 of 7

Print Date: 8/14/2014

Last Updated: 3/17/2014

Middle School - International Society for Technology in Education

ISTE-Net Middle (170 - 180 Days)
Aug - May
Overarching Understandings:

Overarching Essential Questions:

Collaboration expands thinking by enabling us to consider multiple perspectives.

How does collaborating help me understand and see value in others perspectives?
How does collaboration influence my thinking?
What is my role when I work with others? How do I monitor my role and my participation?

Efficient collaboration relies upon, and results in, effective communication.

How do other peoples perspectives impact the way I collaborate with them?
How do we identify and adjust our work when collaboration isnt effective?
How does effective communication support collaborative decision-making and problem-solving?

Thinking critically about both information and process is essential for effective research and problem-solving.

How does the original authors perspective impact the way I utilize their work?
What criteria do I use when evaluating information? What are important factors to consider?
What critical questions do I need to ask when gathering information?

Technologies are developed in response to innovative thinking around changing needs.

How can I discover new features of the technology and then use those components effectively?
How can I utilize technology to express my creative and innovative ideas?

Communicating and learning effectively require us to use technology in a way that is appropriate for our purpose,
subject, and audience.

How can I find and use technology to expand my thinking and share that thinking with an audience? What criteria do I
use to evaluate?
How do I know that I communicated what I learned effectively?

As a citizen in a digital society, participants agree to practice safe and ethical use of information.

How do I know Im using information in an ethical manner?

What is my personal responsibility as a digital citizen?
What is my responsibility for digital safety?

Problem-solving and perseverance are essential to true innovation.

How do I apply what I already know when I encounter new ideas? How does that support me in developing new,
innovative ideas?
How do I know when my work has achieved the desired results? What do I do when my idea or project does not
produce the anticipated results?

2013 Jeffco Public Schools

Benjamin Feigert

Page 2 of 7

Print Date: 8/14/2014

Last Updated: 3/17/2014

Middle School - International Society for Technology in Education

ISTE-Net Middle (170 - 180 Days)
Aug - May
Communication and Collaboration

Students will understand that...

Essential Questions

Cooperative work requires teamwork.

Globally, people have a variety of ideas.
Using a variety of technologies encourages us to communicate and collaborate with others both locally and
globally.
Working cooperatively allows for greater problem solving.
Students will know...
Avariety of communication tools and their characteristics (i.e., blogs, Google hangout)
Key vocabulary: collaboration, compromise, advocate
Strategies for connecting with a global audience. (e.g., ePals, social media)
Strategies for effective communication.
Strategies for working cooperatively.

Does my project communicate my learning?

How do I exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity?
How do I help my group analyze and solve problems as we collaborate?
What can I learn from other students both within and beyond my own classroom?
Why should I consider others ideas and learn to advocate for my own ideas as I collaborate with others?
Students will be able to...
Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems.
Integrate a variety of applications and Web 2.0 tools to create and illustrate a document or presentation.
Participate actively in group discussions to analyze information and solutions.
Use electronic tools to participate and collaborate in various cultural learning communities, both within and beyond
the traditional classroom walls.

Creativity and Innovation

Students will understand that...

Considering others ideas will lead to an innovative and creative product.
Intentional choice of visual text (images) can help to convey knowledge and emotion.
Models and simulations can represent what happens in real life.
Original works can be created as a means of personal or group expression.
Past trends and patterns can help to forecast possible outcomes.
Selection of media and tools is dependent on the audience and purpose.
Using technology provides options for creativity and the sharing of ideas.
Students will know...
Avariety of collaborative tools for enhancing creativity and innovation (e.g., Google docs, screencast).
Cause and effect using patterns and trends.
Considerations for matching media and tools to audience and purpose.
Key vocabulary: simulations, models
Methods for finding or creating photos/images/graphics.

2013 Jeffco Public Schools

Benjamin Feigert

Essential Questions
How can models or simulations help me to understand a complex system or issue?
How do I determine appropriate media for different audiences and purposes?
How do photos, images, and graphics convey knowledge or emotion?
How does considering the ideas of other lead to innovative, ideas, new processes and a better product?
How does knowing trends and patterns help me to predict possible outcomes?
How does my project reflect innovation of thought and creativity?
Students will be able to...
Determine appropriate media and tools for a specific audience and purpose.
Identify content specific trends and predict possible outcomes.
Manipulate photos/images/graphics to convey a message, demonstrate knowledge, or express an emotion.
Use background knowledge to create an original project using a variety of media.
Use models and/or simulations to explore a complex system or issue within a content.

Page 3 of 7

Print Date: 8/14/2014

Last Updated: 3/17/2014

Middle School - International Society for Technology in Education

ISTE-Net Middle (170 - 180 Days)
Aug - May
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making

Students will understand that...

Essential Questions

Point of view is important; it's essential to consider multiple perspectives before drawing conclusions on a topic.
Asking good questions is an essential part of learning.
Critical thinking is not easy and requires effort and perseverance.
Data is essential and provides evidence to support a claim.
Long term projects or studies require organization.
Making an informed decision requires collecting and analyzing data.
Students will know...
Avariety of sources to find credible information (e.g. JCPL databases, reference sources).
Key Vocabulary: credible, relevant/irrelevant, perspective
Reasoning skills and logic to develop a solution.
Strategies for questioning or inquiry.
The process of researching.

2013 Jeffco Public Schools

Benjamin Feigert

How do I decide when I have done enough research to be able to draw an informed conclusion or propose a
solution?
How do I determine which data to gather when researching?
How do I manage and organize information when researching?
What critical questions do I need to ask when gathering information?
What strategies guide my research process?
Students will be able to...

Identify authentic problems, brainstorm questions for investigation, and narrow the focus to
relevant, researchable issues.
Analyze and make predictions using the data.
Discern relevant from irrelevant information.
Explain which tool is most appropriate to gather data and explain findings.
Gather and record data and represent the data using digital tools.
Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project, individually and in groups.
Read and analyze multiple sources from diverse perspectives.
Synthesize information to form conclusions and propose solutions.

Page 4 of 7

Print Date: 8/14/2014

Last Updated: 3/17/2014

Middle School - International Society for Technology in Education

ISTE-Net Middle (170 - 180 Days)
Aug - May
Digital Citizenship

Students will understand that...

Essential Questions

Individuals are responsible for their work.

Information comes from a variety of sources.
Login credentials help protect privacy.
Technology is a valuable tool when used correctly.
Technology requires safe and responsible behavior.
There are consequences of poor online behavior.

How do I know Im using information in an ethical manner?

What is my personal responsibility as a digital citizen?
What is my responsibility for keeping my personal information safe and secure?

Students will know...

Students will be able to...

Acceptable and unacceptable uses of technology both at home and at school.

Basic information and tools needed for creating a citation.
Criteria for strong logins/passwords.
Key vocabulary: login, password, username, responsibility, cite, source, copyright, fair use, cyber bullying, cyber
safety, paraphrase, quote, plagiarism
Strategies for putting research information into your own words (paraphrasing) to prevent plagiarism.
The format of a Works Cited page.
The implications of failing to keep their personal information safe and secure (invasion of privacy, company
profiling, and scams).

2013 Jeffco Public Schools

Benjamin Feigert

Accurately create citations, both in-text and in a works cited page, for all text and images used, giving credit to
others for both words and ideas.
Exhibit a positive attitude towards using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.
Identify the components of a good citation.
Model appropriate use and support others in use of technology.
Practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology (e.g., copyright, fair use, social networking
etiquette, cyber bullying, cyber safety).
Show personal responsibility for lifelong learning by staying focused on the task, independently working, and
asking questions.
Use quotations or paraphrase appropriately to avoid plagiarism.
With assistance, comply with copyright laws and fair use policies to protect intellectual property rights.

Page 5 of 7

Print Date: 8/14/2014

Last Updated: 3/17/2014

Middle School - International Society for Technology in Education

ISTE-Net Middle (170 - 180 Days)
Aug - May
Research and Information Fluency

Students will understand that...

Essential Questions

Research demands reading and understanding information from multiple resources and then synthesizing the
information into a format that can be shared with others.
Research requires an organizational framework.
Research requires giving credit to the source.
Sources must be evaluated in order to determine appropriateness and credibility.
Students will know...
Characteristics of effective search terms.
Difference between directly quoting and paraphrasing.
Digital tools to support the development of a works cited page.
Key Vocabulary: Works Cited, clarity, database, bias, plagiarism, relevance, accuracy, credibility, annotate
Strategies for assessing the success of research and adjusting as appropriate.
The differences between primary and secondary source materials.
Various tools that support the presentation of ideas.
Words and phrases used to introduce direct quotes and paraphrases.

How will I give credit to my sources in order to make sure I am ethically using information?
How will I share my findings utilizing a variety of digital tools?
What questions should I ask when gathering, evaluating and organizing information?
Why is planning important?
Students will be able to...
Engage in the research process based on open-ended research questions that allow for multiple avenues of
exploration; adjust process as needed.
Evaluate information for clarity, relevance, accuracy, bias and credibility; use this evaluation to make informed
decisions about its use and to determine what additional resources may be needed.
Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively.
Generate open-ended research questions and generate additional, related questions to guide exploration.
Identify potential sources of information (such as reference materials, electronic media), differentiating between
primary and secondary source materials.
Prepare a presentation of research findings (written, oral, or visual), considering how to best address the subject,
purpose, and intended audience. Use digital tools appropriately to support the presentation.
Use quotations and paraphrases appropriately to incorporate the conclusions of others. Avoid plagiarism through
paraphrasing, in-text citation, and attribution.
Using digital tools as appropriate, apply a standard format for citation and the development of a works cited page.

2013 Jeffco Public Schools

Benjamin Feigert

Page 6 of 7

Print Date: 8/14/2014

Last Updated: 3/17/2014

Middle School - International Society for Technology in Education

ISTE-Net Middle (170 - 180 Days)
Aug - May
Technology Operations and Concepts

Students will understand that...

Existing knowledge of technology supports the learning of new technologies.
There are a wide variety of digital tools available, and it is critical to choose the right tool for the task.
Troubleshooting includes problem solving and collaboration.
Students will know...
Avariety of search engines and databases to find information.
Strategies to choose appropriate digital tools for a task.
Strategies to select and use applications effectively and productively.
Strategies to troubleshoot systems and applications (e.g. select a different browser, check all cords).
The impact of effective keyboarding on productivity.

2013 Jeffco Public Schools

Benjamin Feigert

Essential Questions
How is troubleshooting like problem solving?
What do you already know about technology that will help you with this new project?
Which tool will best demonstrate your learning and ideas?
Students will be able to...
Demonstrate an understanding of a spreadsheet as a tool to record, organize, and graph information.
Demonstrate proficient use of word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software. (e.g., cut, paste, copy,
change font, page setup, formatting, tables, file types, edit & insert pictures and make, edit and upload videos).
Independently choose appropriate applications or tools for each task.
Perform simple operations in a database (browse, sort, filter, search using keywords, etc.).
Recognize and troubleshoot routine hardware, software and web-based problems.
Transfer current knowledge to a new technology.
Use appropriate search engines to access information (enter a URL, use links, create bookmarks, use
applications to annotate web pages).

Page 7 of 7

Print Date: 8/14/2014

Last Updated: 3/17/2014