The Solar System Hypermedia Presentation

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1 The Solar System Hypermedia Presentation Saima Ahmed Midterm-Option B EDCI 519 Dr. Haley October 16, 2007

2 Project Overview: The purpose of this hypermedia project was to provide Teachers and English Language Learners, a content-based interactive tool to learn about the Solar System. Content based language learning draws on Stephen Krashen's theory that success in acquiring a second language depends on meaning rather than form and an environment that provides meaningful interaction (Haley & Ausitn 2004). In this project students can learn the names of the planets in different languages, by clicking on the flag of a country where that language is spoken. This project can be further enhanced by having the entire text in that language. I added this feature keeping in mind that several research findings have shown the positive effects of maintaining the heritage language and its advantages in learning a second language (V.P. Collier 1995). This project can be used as a whole class lesson, in a small group or students can work on it individually. This hypermedia presentation is full of visual images and figures to reach different proficiency level learners. The Solar System presentation starts with a site map which lists all the nine planets in order of their distance from the Sun, with links to Sun and Earth s Moon. The Power Point slides have information about each of the nine planets with facts and actual imagery of the planets taken from the NASA websites. Students can explore each slide and click on Hyperlinks to learn more about each individual planet. Each slide has the name of the planet, its astronomical symbol, a brief description, some important facts and what is the planet named after. Some slides also have an icon (Einstein picture). Clicking on this icon takes the learner to slide with further fun facts and figures. The Moon slide also has an audio feature (Armstrong s famous words as he landed on the Moon). The names of the planets (except Earth) are named after Greek/Roman mythology. This information is also included in the slides to generate interest in students with more leaning towards the arts. On the site map there is a link to acknowledgments which lists the websites that have further information about the planets and students can further explore them. There are also hyperlinks to websites with more fun facts, animations and a short quiz which has questions about the planets. Overall, this presentation can be used by teachers as a short review to the solar system unit in the syllabus or by students who can take a self-guided tour of the planets and can learn at their own pace. This hypermedia presentation can by used to help English language learners improve their reading (reading the facts and figures in each slide), writing (students can take the quiz), speaking (students and teacher can discuss each slide), and listening (one slide has a listening feature) skills in an interactive content-based setting. Educational research has shown that self-learning and interactive multimedia are particularly effective in facilitating the teaching of English skills (Haley & Austin 2004). This hypermedia presentation can engage all students with different learning styles and multiple intelligences because students can explore it independently or in pairs/groups and they can connect culturally by clicking on the flags (Intrapersonal, Interpersonal Intelligence). For logical/mathematical learner this presentation provides ample opportunities by giving facts and figures which they can compare and contrast. For Verbal/Linguistic learner links to websites with detailed information on the Solar System are provided. Bodily/Kinesthetic learner, will find the inter-activeness of the presentation interesting. He/She will have control to navigate through the slides by using the mouse at their own pace. Visual/Spatial learner, can look at the images of the planets and learn from tables and graphs. Musical/Rhythmic learner, can listen to the sound incorporated in one of the slides and also follow the provided links to websites with further multimedia items. Lastly, for Naturalist this hypermedia presentation provides content related to our Earth and the Solar System we live in. Differentiated Learning: This hypermedia presentation can be differentiated to reach all five proficiency levels ELLs. For proficiency level one the presentation can be used to teach them the names of the planets by looking at the pictures of each planet along with their names. For proficiency level two, students can

interaction (Haley & Ausitn 2004). In this project students can learn the names of the planets in different languages, by clicking on the flag of a country where that language is spoken.

3 learn the names of the planets and look at other visuals related to the planet to learn more about the planets. Proficiency level three students can read the description of each planet and look at the fun facts and figures. Proficiency level four students can analyze some facts and figures and compare and contrast the planets. Proficiency level five students can learn more from links given to various websites which provide further information about the planets. Target Learners: This hypermedia presentation on the Solar System was designed for culturally, linguistically and cognitively diverse middle school students to provide an interactive approach for content-based learning. Content Area: The content area is Science. Unit Objectives:. Students will be able to recognize and name the planets in our Solar System.. Students will be able to put the planets in order.. Students will be able to retell important facts about each of the nine planets, our sun and moon.. Students will be able to name the planets in more than one language. TESOL National Standards: This hypermedia presentation addresses the following Standards: Goal 1, Standard 1: To use English to communicate in social settings. English language learners communicate for social, intercultural, and instructional purposes within the school setting. Goal 2, Standard 4: To use English to achieve academically in all content areas: English language learners communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the area of science.

Proficiency level four students can analyze some facts and figures and compare and contrast the planets.

4 User s Guide to The Solar System Presentation 1. Launch the hypermedia file by double-clicking on the file name, solar_system.ppt. You also need the audio file one_small_step.au in the same directory as the power point presentation file. 2. Once the file has launched click on the first slide which has a picture of the solar system. 3. On the second slide you will find a Site Map of the nine planets, the Sun and the Moon. There is another link to Acknowledgments and other websites. 4. You can begin exploring each of the nine planets by clicking on the name of the planet which will take you to that planet's slide. Once on that slide you can look at the picture of the planet and read about important facts. Explore the astronomical symbols of the planets and its name history. There is a picture of American flag and a flag of a different country. If you click on the flag of a different country it will give you the name of that planet in the language of that country. 5. Some slides have an Einstein icon. Clicking on that icon will take you to a slide which has further facts and figures. 6. On each slide on the lower right hand side is a globe icon. Clicking on that icon will take you to the Site Map. 7. Move the mouse over the slide to look for the hyperlinks. If a hyperlink to another slide or a website (URL) is present, then the mouse cursor changes from a pointer to a hand. You can click the mouse to follow the link. 8. Explore! and have fun.

On the second slide you will find a Site Map of the nine planets, the Sun and the Moon. There is another link to Acknowledgments and other websites. 4.

5 List of icons and their meaning Language Icons: The name of the planet will appear in the language represented by the flag Flag Country Language France French Germany Greece Iran Israel Lebanon Mexico Pakistan United States German Greek Persian Hebrew Arabic Spanish Urdu English Action Icons Icon Action Click on the Einstein icon to obtain further details on a planet. This icon appears on some of the slides Clicking on the globe icon takes the user back to the Site Map back The back icon takes the user to the previous slide Users should not use the keyboard to navigate the slides of this hypermedia presentation. Once the presentation opens up, only the mouse should be used to view the slides.

6 References Collier, V.P. (1995). Acquiring a second language for school. Washington, D.C.: The National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education. Haley, M.H. & Austin, T.Y. (2004). Content-Based second language teaching and learning: An interactive approach. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

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