Name:

Foundations of Technology

Period:
Date:
Unit 3 Design Group: Information & Communication

Appalachian Trail Activity

Scenario

You and three-four of your friends decide to hike part of the Appalachian Trail, the
whole trail is a total of 2175-mile trail running from Georgia to Maine. Your team
will be dropped off in New York and picked up at Harpers Ferry. The team will be
starting when school ends for the year in June. Your team will consist of an expert
in each of the following subjects on the trip:
- Energy & Power
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Information & Communication
- Agriculture & Transportation
- Medicine & First Aid

Information &
Communication
Background

Information & Communication devices are made up of a number of parts. These

parts are made of various materials. To determine which material is best, a
designer must consider, among other things, strength, mass/weight, availability,
and cost.
Each person is responsible for making sure that their Hiking Team is well prepared
for this trip by knowing their own subject and packing the resources needed for
this trip within their subject. Your fearless and supportive leader/teacher will be
meeting you ONCE with a ration of supplies that you come up with within the
weight limits.

Problem

Your Design Group is in charge of informing the rest of the teams about the
knowledge you gained of Information & Communication.
Procedure

Materials

1. Research your topic from the information given

2. Now that you are an expert in your topic access your scenario what
information and materials would you need within your Hiking Team. Create
a list neatly compiled and complete list.
3. Complete the Vocabulary Crossword
4. Create Vocabulary Cards
a. Front: Vocabulary word
b. Back: Definition WITH a chart/picture/memory helper
5. Design an activity that will only take 30 minutes maximum to relay the
information to the rest of the class. ALL students must be able to pass the
Manufacturing Quiz with the information given from your activity.
Computer w/Internet Access
Calculator
Cardstock

Information & Communication Vocabulary Words

Inputs: determine the objective of the project or the action.
Process: how the objective is achieved or the procedure (includes materials, tools, supplies,
etc.).
Output: the results of the objective.
Feedback: confirmation that the objective was achieved, how the objective could be improved.
Source: the person or machine originating the communication.

Name:
Foundations of Technology

Period:
Date:
Unit 3 Design Group: Information & Communication

Encoder: the device that translates the communication into a format for transmission.
Transmitter: the device that sends the message.
Receiver: the device that collects the message.
Decoder: the device that translates the communication into an acceptable viewing format.
Storage: the device that stores the communication.
Retrieval: the device that retrieves the communication on command.
Destination: the person or machine who is the audience.
NonverbalCommunication: is the process of communicating without using words, generally
using visual cues between people, used for interpersonal communication or communication
between people.
Kinesics: the study of communication through gesture, posture, and movement.
Haptics: the study of communication through touching.
Information & Communication Quiz
Selected Response Items
1. In a systems model of input, process, output, and feedback, when a student is speaking to
a friend on a mobile phone, the mobile phone is part of the
1. Input
2. Process
3. Output
4. Feedback
2. In a systems model of input, process, output, and feedback, when a student is speaking to
a friend on a mobile phone, and the friend responds to a question, the response is part of
the
1. Input
2. Process
3. Output
4. Feedback
3. A student using a radio controller to communicate with a small robot is an example of
what type of communication?
1. Human to machine and machine to machine
2. Machine to machine and human to machine
3. Human to human and human to machine
4. Machine to human and human to machine
4. As part of a communication system, what kind of device is a computer keyboard?
1. Encoder
2. Transmitter
3. Decoder
4. Storage device
5. As part of a communication system, what kind of device is a computer hard drive?
1. Encoder

Name:
Foundations of Technology

Period:
Date:
Unit 3 Design Group: Information & Communication

2. Transmitter
3. Decoder
4. Storage device
6. Software that allows students to read email is what type of device?
1. Decoder
2. Storage
3. Retrieval
4. Destination
Assessment Instrument - Brief Constructed Response (BCR)
Students are expected to respond to one of the questions described below. Students should
provide examples to clarify their response.
1. Information and communication technologies include the inputs, processes, outputs, and
feedback associated with sending and receiving information. Examine two examples of a
communication system by defining the input, output, process, and feedback associated
with each system.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Communication systems are made up of source, encoder, transmitter, receiver, decoder,
storage, retrieval, and destination. Examine two examples of a communication system by
defining the source, encoder, transmitter, receiver, decoder, storage, retrieval, and
destination associated with each system.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Brief Constructed Response Item Rubric
Category

Below Average

Understanding

Response demonstrates an implied, Response is written technically Response is written technically and precisely.
partial, or superficial understanding and precisely. The answer
The answer demonstrates understanding of
of the text and/or the question.
demonstrates understanding of the topic and cites specific examples.
the topic.

Focus

Use of Related
Information

Response lacks transitional

information to show the
relationship between the content
and the support to the question.

Average

Response addresses the

question, includes pertinent
information, and remains
focused on the topic.

Response uses minimal supporting Response uses expressed

information to clarify or extend
and/or implied supporting
meaning.
information that clarifies or
extends meaning.

Excellent

Response addresses the question, cites

specific examples, includes pertinent
information, and remains focused on the
topic. Details are clearly stated and do not
detract from the response.
Response uses clear and concise examples
as well as supporting information that
clarifies or extends meaning.