Intel Visual

We were to examine the Intel Thinking Tools. I examined the each tool and below are a snip of the benefits of each.

Benefits of the Visual Ranking Tool

Students use higher-order thinking skills when they create and compare ordered lists.

Benefits of the Seeing Reason Tool

Students use higher-order thinking skills when they analyze cause and effect.

Benefits of the Showing Evidence Tool

Students use higher-order thinking skills when they learn to critically construct, evaluate, and defend their arguments.

I chose to do my project using the Intel Visual Ranking Tool. I chose this tool because I teach special education and honestly do not think my students could feel successful with the other projects. The other two tools were analyzing and critically constructing/defending arguments. I liked all three tools yet my class make-up would have the most benefit from the Visual Ranking.
The first step was to sign up for an educator account.

Description of project and why it was chosen:


My project is a week long unit on "What Makes a Good Leader?".  My class does not possess the higher level pedagogical thinking skills. Children with Autism and Mental Impairment do not have the cognitive ability or reasoning skills either. I feel that we could successfully complete this task though. This assignment would have the modifications and seem very simple to a regular education teacher. One does not realize the challenges a student with disabilities face and it was very hard for me to decide on how we would work this project out as a class.  Students would research Leader Traits and we would use a variety of ways to rank their importance. We would pick a different leader each day of the week and they could learn first-hand on how to be a leader also.

According to TPACK website:
Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK), builds on Shulman’s idea of PCK, and attempts to capture some of the essential qualities of knowledge required by teachers for technology integration in their teaching, while addressing the complex, multifaceted and situated nature of teacher knowledge. At the heart of the TPACK framework, is the complex interplay of three primary forms of knowledge: Content (CK), Pedagogy (PK), and Technology (TK)


 The unit would cover CSO:  ELA.4.R.C2.6 compare and contrast a firsthand and secondhand account of the same event or topic; describe the differences in focus and the information provided in informational text.

ISTE NETS Standards; 2-5