Classroom Blog and Website Creation Tools

Lesson Idea Name: Genetics Flipped classroom idea

Content Area: Life Science
Grade Level(s): 7th
Content Standard Addressed: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to explain how organisms
reproduce either sexually or asexually and transfer genetic information to determine the traits of their
offspring.
Technology Standard Addressed: Global Collaborator

Selected Technology Tool:

☒ Blog ☐ Wiki ☐ Other: Website Creation Tool (list):

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable): http://bdrobinski.edublogs.org/

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):
☐ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☒ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating ☐ Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☒ Level 2: Exploration ☒ Level 3: Infusion ☐ Level 4: Integration
☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement
Universal Design for Learning (UDL):
This blog can address Universal Design for all learners by giving the students an opportunity to address the
flipped classroom assignment any way they feel will help them understand the material. This also gives them
a chance to start discussions with other classmates.
Lesson idea implementation:
Objectives: Develop and use a model to describe how asexual reproduction can result in offspring with
identical genetic information while sexual reproduction results in genetic variation. (Clarification
statement: Models could include, but are not limited to, the use of monohybrid Punnett squares to
demonstrate the heritability of genes and the resulting genetic variation, identification of heterozygous and
homozygous, and comparison of genotype vs. phenotype.) We will spend time in class introducing the topic
enough so when I ask them to check the blog at home they should be able to complete the assignment and
bring to class what is asked of them. The students will be assessed by the quality of work they bring back to
class. The flipped classroom assignment should take them about 20-30 minutes to complete. What they bring
back to class the next day will initiate a discussion.
Their assignment will be asking them to sit down with their parents and ask some questions such as blood
type, whether or no they have a hitchhikers thumb, if their ear lobes are attached or not, and if they have a
widows peak or not. Then the student will be asked if they are able to infer what their blood type is and about
the other characteristics which are dominant and which they think are recessive. This is higher order thinking
level because they will have to understand how characteristics are inherited and try to think about each and
apply their knowledge about the subject. The feedback for the students will be part of the next day
discussion.
Importance of technology:
Yes, this project could be completed without using technology. If technology was not used for this
assignment then differentiation and UDL would be lost because then they would be asked to write down the
observations rather than showcasing it any way they wish, whether it through a story or a video or even
pictures. A camera could be used to upload pictures of family and characteristics (except their blood type) or
a video being uploaded through the use of the camera as well.
Internet Safety and Student Privacy:

Summer 2017_SJB
 Classroom Blog and Website Creation Tools
I would ask administration about their policy as far as teacher websites and their thoughts on letting students
have access. After examining the school policy and talking with administration I would alleviate risk for the
students and myself I would ask for the students to bring back a signed consent form from their parents
allowing them to log on to the website. They would not be allowed to get an access code of any sort prior to
this consent form.
Reflective Practice:
This flipped classroom activity allows the students to present their answers to the assignments in a handful of
ways that implement UDL and differentiation. I do not think that there could be any other types of technology
that could be implemented into this lesson.

Summer 2017_SJB