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Storyline Narrative 8.2.6

Storyline Narrative:

In this storyline, students will obtain and evaluate information about the structure and function of analog and digital signals in order to communicate a reasoned argument to support the claim that digital signals are a more reliable means of communication than analog signals.

 

Students will engage in obtaining and evaluating information, first to define and describe a signal. Then they will be ready to explore the characteristics of analog and digital audio signals. After explaining the similarities and differences between these two types of signals, especially in terms of structure and function, they will be able to sort examples of objects and technologies that use them.


Students will then be ready to elaborate on what they have learned by obtaining, evaluating and communicating information about one means of communication. Lastly, student proficiency will be evaluated by a performance assessment: writing a claim, evidence, and reasoning (CER) paragraph.

Conceptual Understandings

Signals communicate information from sender to receiver.

How do signals vary?

Snapshot

Students obtain information about signals using online resources. They evaluate the information in order to identify the structure and function of signals. Then they communicate their understanding of signals in writing.

Episode 1

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Engage

What is a signal?

Anchor 1

Episode 2

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Explore

How do signals vary?

Snapshot

Students observe a series of images that represent a signal. They look for patterns in the series of images and ask questions about the patterns they observe.Then they listen to the sound bits that correspond to the images and repeat the observe, identify patterns, ask questions (OPQ) process.

Conceptual Understandings

Signals may change during analog transmission due to interference.

What other characteristics do analog and digital signals have?

Anchor 2

Conceptual Understandings

Signals have distinct waveforms or structures.

What are examples of things that store or transmit signals?

Snapshot

Students watch a video clip to obtain information about analog and digital signals. They compare and contrast the types of signal. Then they write and share statements about the structure and function of analog and/or digital signals.

Episode 3

 

Explain

What other characteristics do analog and digital signals have?

Anchor 3

Episode 4

 

Elaborate

What are examples of things that store or transmit signals?

Snapshot

Students sort 20 objects/technologies that store or transmit signals into two groups and then ask questions about the objects, technologies, means of communication and signals.

Conceptual Understandings

One example is music. Mp3 files are digital. Vinyl records store analog signals.

How are digital signals more reliable than analog signals?

Anchor 4

Conceptual Understandings

Digital encoding and transmission of information has advanced science in a variety of ways.

Snapshot

Students choose a means of communication to research, obtain and evaluate information about it and then communicate what they have learned.

Episode 5

 

Evaluate

How are digital signals more reliable than analog signals?

Anchor 5
Anchor 6
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