Submitted by Mike Smart
Time Frame:
3-6 50-minute periods (see discussion below)
Materials Needed:
- Access to computers/Microsoft Publisher to make websites
- Access to computers for half the class for the Movie-Sharing Party
- Assessment Rubrics (two, see Attachments)
- Movie Question Sheet (see Attachments)
Description of Task:
The assessment is broken into two parts: workshop time for students to create their websites; and a “movie-sharing party” where students will get a chance to discuss their websites and the various movies they have watched.
The time frame for the assessment can vary considerably, depending on the students’ technical proficiency and resources. With students that are comfortable with Japanese input and have had some experience working with Microsoft Publisher, two to three classes should be enough for them to create the simple five-page websites. To facilitate things, the included sample site for the Seven Samurai could be used as a template for students to make their websites. More time should be allowed if students need to learn either Microsoft Publisher or basic Japanese inputting.
An alternative to speed up the creation of presentations would be to ask students to make PowerPoint presentations or even movie posters instead of the websites.
In any case, once the websites are complete, the movie presentation party should take two lessons, as described below.
The assessment unit consists of two parts. First, the students are given time to work on their websites and prepare themselves to be ready to answer questions about their movie. Second, students will participate in a “movie-sharing party”.
During the course of the assessment unit, students will be assessed in two areas:
PART I (WORKSHOP)
- Their websites
- Their performance in fielding general questions from the teacher about the movie they have watched.
At the start of the workshop, the instructor distributes both the rubric and the website checklist. The instructor then leads a short session explaining the various elements of the rubrics, and showing the students how the rubrics can help them prepare for the assessments. Over the course of the next few days, the teacher can help students as necessary with their websites.
Note: The Website Rubric has a column for peer evaluation. This is an optional step that can be used at some point in the workshop. Basically, you ask the students to make pairs and to evaluate each other’s websites.
Once the workshop is complete, it is time for the Movie-Sharing Party.
PART II (MOVIE-SHARING PARTY)
The Movie-Sharing Party will be split up over two periods, although it may by possible to accomplish it in one period if the class is small.
First, the teacher splits the class up into two groups: A & B (this could be done the day before, if the teacher would like). For the first day, Group A is told that they are the presenters and group B is told that they are the viewers.
Group A is asked to load their websites on their computers. Group B is then given a movie question sheet (attached) and told to wander around the computer room, to ask presenters questions about the movies. During this time, the teacher goes to each presenter, asks several questions about the movie he or she has watched, and assesses their performance based on the “Oral Interview” rubric (attached).
For the second day, the procedure is reversed: Group B will present and field questions. Group A walks around and asks questions.
At the end of the second period, the students should make their websites available to the teacher for evaluation using the “Website Rubric”.
Note: Teachers may want to work into their assessments some evaluation of the students as they wander around and ask questions to the presenters. Students could have a question sheet for each student they will interview, take notes on what they find out, and turn the sheets in.
References and Resources:
Attachments:
NOTE: some attachments are in PDF form (get Acrobat Reader)Movie Party Question Sheets
Checklist for Students