3 Ls Group Project on ADA Law

Web Link: http://www.tirkzilla.com/~les/EPFA/group.html

ADA Online Lesson
Teaching participants to understand the reasons for,
and the details of, the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Created by: Les Brown, Lynn Gitlow, and Lucy (Irene) Willard

Topic: Americans with Disabilities Act

Rationale: The Americans with Disabilities Act is a long and complicated law, with a rich history of defining litigation and many details to understand. Staff need to understand the background of the law, it’s purpose, and how it is implemented in this organization.

Objective: Participants will be able to:
Name the 5 titles of the American’s with disabilities act
Be able to relate the law to their work environment or personal experience
Find resources to learn out more about the law as needed
Know how to document the source of their information
Evaluate the individual and group experience as part of the project

Materials:
Website with information resources and links to the ADA law
A discussion space (GoogleGroups) for students to post their group projects
E-mail addresses for each participant

Key Vocabulary: Intent and titles of the law, Americans with Disabilities

Assessment Method: Students will complete a self assessment and group assessment as part of the activity. Groups will also assess the work of other groups, providing feedback via a discussion thread.


Process:
Introductions of assignment
Students will be sent the project URL via e-mail.
Materials for the lesson, and the assignment itself, will be posted on that webpage.

Assignment 1: Create a project on one of the Titles of the ADA Due: End of week 1
Students are divided into groups, so that there are 5 or 6 groups. Each group is given the assignment to create a project talking about one of the Titles of the ADA. Assignment details are posted on the website. Assignments are to be posted in a teacher created thread in the discussion forum, so other groups can view their work and discuss the implications.

Assignment 2: Self and group evaluation Due: End of week 1
Students will be asked to download a self/group evaluation form from the website and fill it in, then send it via e-mail to the instructor. The first part will focus on the student’s work as part of the group, outlining their contributions, and how they felt they did. The second part will focus on the group. Students should evaluate how their group worked together, noting any problems, and providing some details about the contributions of the other group members (instructor can use this for cross checking). – an expectation needs to be reiterated on the webpage, that the groups will contact the instructor if someone has not contributed at all, and that can be detailed on this form as well, but the form should not be the first time the instructor has heard about it!

Assignment 3: Peer evaluation of other groups Due: 1 week after the project above
Each group will use a teacher created discussion thread to evaluate the content posted by at least two other groups. All group members should participate to create an evaluation the work. Discussion points to be covered will be posted on the website.