Reading Reflection Chapter 1

1. I think we need to keep in mind that this is not the traditional approach while we take this journey through project based learning. We are so stuck in the "this is how its always done" mentality and some of us are not good with change. This will also shift our teacher role and that is okay, we are still the teacher and they look to us but we don't have to be the content expert anymore. 
2. I think a huge benefit of PBL is authenticity. It has very authentic assessment and learning taking place. It helps us to never stop learning, even us as teachers can continue to learn more things through PBL. A huge benefit of PBL is it plays very well into differentiated instruction, which means each student can take it and make it their own. This in turn will make learning much more fun. 
3. Project based learning is known as the 21st century approach. I think that it will teach students 21st century skills, and we all know that those are very different than what they were. It helps students learn inquiry, critical thinking, great communication skills, and something we all need to work on... public speaking skills. 
4. I know that there will always be those teachers who teach towards the test, looking at the way PBL is set up, I think that those teachers will struggle with it. They will be more interested in the material rather than creating 21st century students. Knowing myself I am OCD about time and how much time something takes to do, I think for people like myself, we will struggle with how much time will PBL take up in our classrooms. 
5. For New Technology High PBL is the centerpiece for their learning, the culture of the school accepts and supports the approach. I really like how students always have their computers within reach, this is something I know my high school would have never trusted us with, for me this creates a great deal of trust between teachers and students. I also think that having the research behind the creation of the school really validates PBL and shows that this is a great method for students to learn.