America Calls began with the idea that research-based approaches to literacy instruction could be integrated with technology to improve achievement for middle school students at risk of reading failure. America Calls culminated in an action plan for providing students with opportunities to access and evaluate information and communicate new understandings. Participants in America Calls researched their family origins, studied people who immigrated to America in the early part of the twentieth century, and gathered data on recent immigrants. Just as with previous immigrants, students had to limit the weight of their possessions to 100 lbs. They estimated the weight of each item they selected and calculated the total to ensure that their belongings fell within weight limits.
Technology integration requires teachers to weave technology into the fabric of instruction.
In America Calls , teachers had students use electronic spreadsheets for entering and calculating data. It is an authentic activity because it reflects exactly the types of planning and decisions all immigrants must make. Next, teachers ask students where they might access information about Ellis Island. Finally, teachers and students brainstorm ways to communicate the information. One group searches Internet sites while another locates information in both traditional and multimedia encyclopedias.