Overview

An online activity focused on a single website, designed to be completed in a single work session.

Activity

Assessment

Technology skills

Related sites

EALRs

Overview

Web Byte Lesson: The Middle Ages

In this lesson you will be learning about the the time known as The Middle Ages. Oddly enough, you will be using a web site called:

The Middle Ages

from the Annenberg/CPB Foundation which can be found at http://www.learner.org/exhibits/middleages/. When you click on the link above, the site will open in a new browser window, so no matter where you go in the site, the instructions below will always be available to you by switching between browser windows. (If you don't know how to do this, instructions are available.)

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Activity

To complete this lesson, you will use the website linked above to find answers to some of the following questions. When you find your information, you'll be typing your answers in a word processing document, so before you begin, open a new document in a word processing application. (If you don't know how to do this, instructions are available).

To earn full credit for this assignment, you need to make sure you follow each of the steps below for each question you answer. Type your regular heading on it using the Header / Footer commands. If you don't know how to do this, instructions are available. Paraphrase information from the website into your own words to answer the question. Enclose any quoted words, terms, or phrases in quotation marks. Make sure each answer is part of a complete sentence and ideas. Use paragraph and line formatting tools in your pasted text, if necessary, to create smooth text boundaries (to get rid of those jagged edges that sometimes occur when pasting from the Web) Copy and paste the URL for each of the pages where you find the information for each of your answers. See the scoring rubric for more details

Open your word processing document and type your heading (using the Header and Footer, as described above). Save your document in the following manner: Name it medwb then add the number 2 (for your class period) then the first and last name initials for any students in your group. For example, the pair Bill Smith and Sue Jones would name their file medwbbssj . This is important, because when you're done you'll be saving your work in a central location with other students, and if you and another group have the same file name you'll overwrite each other's work.

NOTE: Save the file as you work in one of your group member's network folder. Save every 5 minutes or so.

Now for the questions....

To complete your assignment, you'll need to answer the first, second, and last questions (the ones in red), and answer at least three (3) of the other questions. To make the assignment easier, you may want to copy and paste the whole list of questions into your word processing document before you begin looking for answers. Just make sure you note which ones you must answer, and which ones you may choose to answer.

1. When was the time period known as the Middle Ages?
2. What did people during the Middle Ages do to ensure greater security for themselves in their daily lives?
3. Feudal Life: How was society organized under feudalism?
4. Religion: What roles did Church representatives (priests, bishops, etc) play in the Middle Ages?
5. Homes: What was the typical Medieval home like?
6. Clothing: How did a person's clothing help identify who they were?
7. Health: What are some Medieval beliefs about health and medicine that modern science would find mistaken, or even foolish?
8. Arts & Entertainment: How were the Church, music and drama connected during the Middle Ages?
9. Town Life: How did the growth of town life lead to the decline of feudalism?
10. What is one interesting piece of information you learned about the Middle Ages that you think is important (and that is not included in your answers to the questions above)? Be specific about what makes the information interesting to you, and why you find it important.

When you finish...

After answering all required questions above and showing URLs for each, you're done. Save the file once more in your network folder, then save a copy in the following location:

On the network server, navigate to the WSSD1 folder, then to the "Fileserver" folder, then the "Knowles.Class" folder, then the "WebBytes" folder. Save your file there.

Print one copy of your assignment, and hand it in.

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Assessment

After you complete this lesson, you will be evaluated using the following rubric:

Objectives	Poor	Average	Good	Exemplary
Student answers required questions	2 points Answers fewer than required number of questions	3 points Answers required number of questions but with unclear or incomplete answers	4 points Answers required number of questions with clear and complete answers	5 points Answers required questions with exceptionally clear answers showing depth of thought, and/or completes more than required number with clear and complete answers
Student documents sources of information	0 points Does not show correct URLs for answers	1 point Shows only a single, collective URL for all answers	2 points Shows separate URLs for most but not all answers	3 points Shows correct, individual URL for each answer source
Student locates information of interest to self	0 points Does not answer final question	1 point Answers final question with brief, incomplete, or unclear answer	2 points Answers final question with clear answer	3 points Answers final question with clear, complete answer which demonstrates interest in material
Student follows instructions for use of technology (Word Processing and Web Browser) <1 point for each >	Types, formats, and prints using word processor to complete assignment; saves copy of the assignment in proper location on server	Effectively uses formatting and/ or spelling tools to create a clean, properly formatted assignment	Places complete heading on document using the Header/Footer commands	Accurately paraphrases information from the source and/or properly uses quotation marks to indicate passages copied from original and/or
Total points

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Technology Skills

The technology skills you'll be using in this lesson are:

Skill #1: Managing more than one browser window: Switching between browser windows

It's sometimes useful to have more than one window open on your browser while you use the World Wide Web. You can open a new window anytime you want by (on a Macintosh) clicking and holding on a link or (on a Windows machine) using the right Mouse click to get a pop-up menu offers a "New Window with this link".

In this assignment, the new window has already been created for you. All you need to do is know how to switch between windows. One way to do this is to drag one browser window down and to the right just a bit, so you can see the other browser window behind it. Doing so allows you to click on the second window to bring it to the front. If you can see part of the dimmed background window at all times, you're all set.

Another way to switch between windows is to use the Menubar at the top of your browser screen to switch between windows. In Netscape, use the "Communicator" option to move between windows (which you'll find with the word 'Netscape:" at the bottom of your drop down menu.)

Spend a few minutes getting comfortable with the multiple browser windows before going too far in this assignment.

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Skill #2: Working with two applications at once: Taking notes on a word processor

1. Make sure you have your web browser window open (If you can read these instructions, then you do)
2. Locate a word processing program on your computer. This can be a full-fledged word processor like Word or Works, or a simple typing program like NotePad or Simpletext. Once you know what's available on your machine, open a new document.
3. After opening your word processing window, you'll be switching back and forth between the two programs regularly, as you read and perhaps copy in your browser, and you type or paste in your word processor. (To switch between the browser and word processor, either arrange the two windows so you can see part of both at all times, then click on the dimmed window to bring it forward, or use your computer's multiple program windows to switch between them.)

Keep in mind that when you copy and paste from a web document the margins of your text may need some reformatting.

Keep in mind also that when you copy and paste froma web document, you need to enclose the pasted material in quotation marks.

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Skill #3: Using the Header/Footer tool:

1. Find the menubar option on your word processing program called "View"
2. Click on it to see the drop down options, and select the one called "Header and Footer"
3. In the resulting box (marked in dotted lines) type your heading
4. Use the right align button to move all contents to the right hand side
5. Close the Header box by clicking the option on your menu palette named "Close"

Once you click "Close", your header will disappear (if you're in Normal View) or turn light gray (if you're in Print View). However, either way it will print out just like the rest of your text.

If you need to make changes to your header after you've typed it, select the "Header and Footer" option from the "View" menu again.

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Related Sites

More information on this topic can be found at the following web sites.

• NetSERF: The Internet Connection for Medieval Resources is a good site for connections to primary sources and scholarly writings.
• Exploring Ancient World Cultures: The Middle Ages moves from the Medieval period through the Renaissance
• The Medieval Sourcebook offers links to many primary sources from the time.

Do you know of others? Suggest them for inclusion. 

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Washington State EALRS

History 1.2) analyze the historical development of events, people, places, and patterns of life in U.S., world, and Washington State history (analyze the historical development of civilizations drawn from different continents with regard to turning points, ideas, people, places, and patterns of life)

History 2.1) investigate and research (investigate a topic using electronic technology, library resources, and human resources from the community)

History 3.3) understand how ideas and technological developments influence people, resources, and culture (analyze and evaluate how technological developments have changed people's ideas about the natural world such as relationship to the land, family life, and natural resources)

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