Online Projects, Collaboration Sites and Publishing Opportunities

Lesson Idea Name: Bug Me!

Content Area: Science
Grade Level(s): 2nd
Content Standard Addressed: S2L1. Students will investigate the life cycles of different living organisms.

Technology Standard Addressed: Knowledge Constructor

Selected Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity: BugScope

URL(s) to support the lesson: http://bugscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/

Describe how you would incorporate an Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity in your
classroom (Minimum 2 paragraph overview):

In our 2nd grade classroom, we have been learning about bugs and insects in science class. BugScope is a great
online collaboration site to utilize in the classroom when learning about bugs. The collaboration site enables a
live interactive control of a microscope through a web browser. It can achieve more than 100 times greater
magnification.

As a class, we will be utilizing BugScope during our science lesson focusing on bugs and insects. We will be
sending in an insect via mail for BugScope to collect and allow us to view on the microscope. This site will
allow us to see our bug chosen from a microscope, ask questions through the built-in chat, and also control
the microscope. This site will allow my students to learn about bugs in a fun, hands-on environment.

What technologies would be required to implement this proposed learning activity in a classroom?

 The great part about implementing BugScope into this classroom for a lesson plan is that every
student does not need a device to gain the knowledge needed for the lesson. However, every student
has the opportunity to login individually, for those who need a closer, hands-on learning. It is vital for
the classroom teacher to have access to a computer and SmartBoard for the students to learn about
the content being taught. The SmartBoard is great for the students to come up to the front of the
classroom and look closely at the bug or insect they are learning about.

Describe how the following features are addressed in this learning experience (note: all of them may not be
addressed in the project, but most should be if you are reaching a high LoTi Level).
a. Collaboration with peers, near-peers, mentors outside their classroom and often beyond their
school: BugScope gives students in the classroom the opportunity to participate with scientists at the
University of Illinois’ Beckman Institute. The students are able to mail in insects/bugs to this institution
for the scientists to schedule online sessions with the students.

b. Student-centered learning and knowledge creation (creating original data and or producing original
products as a result of engaging in a project): During these online sessions with the scientists of
BugScope, the students are able to view their bugs through a web-based connection to the universities
electron microscope. The kids are able to conduct their own experiments, explore the insect specimen
at high-magnification, and discuss with the scientists what they see via video conversation.

c. Higher-order thinking: BugScope allows for students to reach the higher-order thinking stage. It gives
the students the opportunity to not only view the insects, but also analyze and evaluate. The learning is
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 Online Projects, Collaboration Sites and Publishing Opportunities
authentic and relevant, where students have the opportunity to apply learning to real word.

d. Students publishing their original work to others who will use/care about their product: Students
publishing their original work to others who will use/care about their product is seen greatly in
BugScope. BugScope gives students the opportunity to submit their own product, in this case the
insects/bugs they have found on their own. The scientists of BugScope show greatly their interest in
these insects and their desire to help students dive deeply into their learning.

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☒ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating ☐ Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level): (Select the best level)

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☐ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion ☐ Level 4: Integration

☒ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): BugScope is a great collaboration site to utilize in the classroom,
especially for ELL learners and other students who require a hands-on learning. This collaboration site allows
for students to really scope in on the insects and bugs they are learning about. For ELL students, this is a great
way to have these students learn about the structure of a certain bug, the coloring, their body parts, etc
without even reading from a textbook or listening in on a lecture. Also, some students require hands on
activities, and BugScope is a great tool to allow the kids to work with science hands-on.

Lesson idea implementation and Internet Safety Policies: The great thing about Bugscope is that it centers all
grade levels (K-12). There is not age requirement to apply to BugScope, so teachers and even students can
apply to utilize this collaboration site. Also, BugScope is a free site for the community and schools to utilize in
and outside of their classrooms. Also, when applying to BugScope, any teacher information is kept
confidential.
Reflective Practice: I feel as if BugScope has a grat impact on student learning. Due to the fact that the 2 nd
grade class has been learning about the lifecycle of different bugs and insects, this collaboration sites gives the
students the opportunity to not only watch their bug grow, but also look closely at the different
characteristics.

To extend the lesson, I think it would be a great idea to have the students write down the various things they
see the bug going through. We will look at our insect through BugScope weekly and write down in our journal
the various characteristics we see our bug going through. I also feel like PowerPoint could be enhanced in this
lesson plan. Students can take pictures weekly of their insect and upload these to PowerPoint to keep track of
the growth.

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