Shannon Moore & Alisa Ingwersen

Digital Citizenship Collaborative Unit: Strategic Searching

Learner Analysis

Introduction
The target group of learners for the Digital Citizenship Unit are 6th grade students at
Harlem Middle School in Harlem, Georgia. Only sixteen students will participate in this unit
study. The demographics of the students are as follows: 56% Male, 44% Female, 12% Black,
75% White, 19% Hispanic, and 81% Economically Disadvantaged. All information was
obtained through the Statewide Longitudinal Data System, SLDS.
Entry Skills & Prior Knowledge

Basic computer skills i.e. web browser use

Basic typing skills
Definition of online search tools

Attitudes Toward Content and Academic Motivation

A short formative survey was given to students prior to the introduction of the lesson. The
following questions were part of the survey.
1. Do you know how to search for an answer online?
2. Other than Google, name another search site.
3. Are you interested and/or motivated to learn new ways to search online?
Data results from the survey are shown below.

Q1
Yes

Q2
Wikipedia
Ask.com

Q3
Yes
No

Educational Ability Levels

Standards that will be assessed for this lesson are grade and age appropriate. The
educational ability level of the sixteen students is on target for this unit.

General Learning Preferences

Student interviews were compiled by Mrs. Ingwersen. She indicates, through the results
of the students responses, the following information. In general, the students prefer to learn by
hands-on activities, interactive games, computer based learning, or any form of technology
(computer lab, tablets, phones, etc.). The students expressed concern about the availability of
computers and the access to the internet via a tablet or smartphone. There are only three
computer labs available to students and this is a concern for them. Our building just became WiFi capable, but the connection is not always reliable.

Group Characteristics
Harlem Middle School is a Title I school. Over 56% of our student body is on free and
reduced lunch, which is the indicator for a Title I school. Even though Harlem is located in a
very affluent county, the majority of our community is either at or slightly below the poverty
level. Of the total number of students that will participate in the unit, 81% are economically
disadvantaged. All students are age appropriate for 6th grade (ages 11-12), with 18% having
failed or been retained at least once. All students speak fluent English, including the 19% of
Hispanic students.