Some of our students wanted to check the size of the bucket.

Big Brutus’s Museum Site           

Andrey inside Big Brutus’s track 

  Once upon a time I held my first granddaughter on my lap.

  Now I hold her son, my first great-grandchild, on my lap

Technology Changes & Families

Teacher Section

            This is the teacher section of the lesson plan.

            Student Goals:

·        Students will become aware of how technological changes introduce changes in the electrical and or electronic equipment of a family’s home.

·        Students will also become aware of the differences in electrical/electronic equipment in homes of different generations of the same family.

·        Students will learn basic interviewing skills

·        Students will become familiar with different technologies and how to use them in presentations

·        Students will learn how to collect and organize data

·        Students will learn how to place data onto technologies in order to present the data to an audience.

·        Students will develop an appreciation of how the same type technology was still different in another generation.

·        Students will become aware of how differences in technologies made differences in the lives of earlier generations of the same family.

Since this is an ‘away from the classroom’ weekend exercise the teacher should explain the project prior to passing out the guide sheet. Ask for questions and be prepared to give examples to help the students understand what is being asked of them. Pass out the project sheet and be sure the students understand the samples on the project sheet are not the only possibilities for electric/electronic devices in the student’s home. Review what is to be done. Let the students know that the computer teacher is planning to work with them on Monday to help them develop the technologies for the project presentations scheduled for Tuesday. Following the presentations, conduct a ‘debriefing’ of the project. Allow the students to be open and ‘say his/her piece’ without interruption and without being judgmental. Try to discover how the parents/grandparents responded to their ‘data collection’ activities and the project.

Technology Changes & Families

Student Guidelines

Due Date: ____/____/____

History is more than just dates and places. It is also the way changes influence families. Sometimes the changes are not seen as historical even though they change the ways we do things.  For example, when my wife and I were first married we use the old fashioned wringer washing machine and rinse tubs to clean our clothing. Later we used an automatic washer and an automatic dryer. Those seem like normal changes, nothing particularly historical about them, but you will probably have to go to a museum to find a wringer washing machine. Electrical appliances and electronic devices are used throughout our homes and also used for entertainment.  Let’s build a history of them in our families.

In this assignment, you are to make a complete list of all the electrical and electronic equipment in your home. Most of you will list twenty or more items. NOTE: you may count a type of item only once. For example, if you have both a Game Boy and an Xbox you have only one type of equipment. Once you make your list set up a chart with as many rows as you have items. Your chart should have at least four columns. The first column is for your list. In the second column place an X on the line for each type of item you have in your home and record how many of each item is in your home. The third column is for your parents. Place an X on the line for each item they had in their homes when they were the same age you are now. The fourth column is for your grandparents or an older friend of your parents. Place an X on the line for each item they had in their homes when they were the same age you are now. Your parents and grandparents may have had items not on your list. If so, just add those items to the bottom of your chart. Your chart should look something like this:

Item	Your House Item / Number	Parents Homes Item / Number	Grandparents Homes Item / Number
TV	X / 2  Color HD	X / 1 Color	X / 1 BW
Game device
Computer
DVD player
Cell Phone
Toaster
Electric Mixer
Electric Clock
Telephone

When you interview your parents and grandparents you may record your information by taking notes which you can place on your chart later. If you have a tape recorder, you may use that to record the interview. You may also use a still camera (film or digital) or a video camera to record your interviews. Remember, you are recording a piece of your family’s history.

Next, you will want to decide how to present your findings. Here are some suggestions or you can determine your own method or combination of methods for presenting your results:

·        PowerPoint (with or without links or music)

·        Video (With or without music or sound effects)

·        Blog

·        Podcast

·        Smart Board

·        Inspiration

·        Audacity

Now that you have the ideas go ahead and get started. Remember; do not do this in class and from memory. Even though you start your list now you will want to tour your home to make sure you don’t forget something. Let me know if I can help you with this project.

The Bill of Rights Institute blog has several current articles of interest. It also has resources. Gary Hemmingway