1. As a result of using Project Based Learning the way the traditional classroom is ran could be changed. After going through this journey with students they may enjoy integrating technology into their learning process, or collaborating with peers in and outside of the classroom. Also as an educator you can learn how your students get involved in what they are learning and use that to your advantage.
2. After working for so long on a project there are many ways to bring the project home. As a class you could share the project with an existing network for teachers, create a project library, turn the project into a archive on the web, or even publish your project.
3. This is related to our project because our project will be coming to an end soon and we need to think of ways to continue what we have learned and incorporate it into the rest of our learning.
Friday, November 28, 2014
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Reading reflection 10
1. Making sure you set apart time for a reflection is a key part of a project. I do know from experience that it isn't always easy. But reflection does give a better chance of moving forward. It allows your students to look at what they are doing very well and what they might not be doing so well.
2. When students reflect and elaborate on their projects it can help to inform their peers. It helps to explain what might work, what does work, and what could work. It helps students to observe their peers progress as well.
3. A way schools can build tradition and identity is through their philosophy of teaching. Some schools do take a more hands on approach, and others use PBL. It is up to the faculty and staff of the school to create the identity of the school.
4. Having a celebration at the end of the project helps the students to feel like they did a good job. It also can help the students create a stronger sense of completeness.
5. This chapter is important to our project because it is taking something that we are doing in our class and having us apply it to our project. We have to reflect to improve our project and that is something we have to teach our students.
2. When students reflect and elaborate on their projects it can help to inform their peers. It helps to explain what might work, what does work, and what could work. It helps students to observe their peers progress as well.
3. A way schools can build tradition and identity is through their philosophy of teaching. Some schools do take a more hands on approach, and others use PBL. It is up to the faculty and staff of the school to create the identity of the school.
4. Having a celebration at the end of the project helps the students to feel like they did a good job. It also can help the students create a stronger sense of completeness.
5. This chapter is important to our project because it is taking something that we are doing in our class and having us apply it to our project. We have to reflect to improve our project and that is something we have to teach our students.
Friday, November 21, 2014
RR #10
1) It is very important to allow some time to reflect on a project. In schools today the learning is happening at a fast pace. In most cases students are moving right into the next project upon completion of another project. Since teacher have so much to get into one year of teaching, reflection is key in order to celebrate students accomplishments throughout that project. Giving the students time to reflect also helps cement the learning that they just went through into their brains.
2) When students reflect it shows that they are capable of explaining what they had just learned. It allows them to not only put the learning into their own words, but also to share their experiences with others. After the students reflect on a project it is important for them to elaborate on that project. A good project should lead right into the next project a constant cycle of learning. Elaborating is important for the student because it allows them to use what they learned and apply it to future projects.
3) It is important for schools to establish a tradition and identity when it comes to project based learning. When students are able to establish a tradition, it sets the stage for future learners. When schools can establish a "staple" project throughout the various grades, it will allow the younger learners to prepare themselves as they rise through the grade levels. Once you develop traditions within the school community members and parents will take notice. It is important to have the support of parents and community in your projects because more support can only make the projects better.
4) Celebrating a project is important for both the students and the teachers. Through celebration, students accomplishments are highlighted for everyone to see. This allows the students to take pride in their work and show it off. As a teacher celebration allows you to see the rich work your students have accomplished.
5) This chapter relates to my project through the celebration piece. In my project we are having a celebration at the end of the project. During this celebration, the students will showcase their work with their peers and families.
2) When students reflect it shows that they are capable of explaining what they had just learned. It allows them to not only put the learning into their own words, but also to share their experiences with others. After the students reflect on a project it is important for them to elaborate on that project. A good project should lead right into the next project a constant cycle of learning. Elaborating is important for the student because it allows them to use what they learned and apply it to future projects.
3) It is important for schools to establish a tradition and identity when it comes to project based learning. When students are able to establish a tradition, it sets the stage for future learners. When schools can establish a "staple" project throughout the various grades, it will allow the younger learners to prepare themselves as they rise through the grade levels. Once you develop traditions within the school community members and parents will take notice. It is important to have the support of parents and community in your projects because more support can only make the projects better.
4) Celebrating a project is important for both the students and the teachers. Through celebration, students accomplishments are highlighted for everyone to see. This allows the students to take pride in their work and show it off. As a teacher celebration allows you to see the rich work your students have accomplished.
5) This chapter relates to my project through the celebration piece. In my project we are having a celebration at the end of the project. During this celebration, the students will showcase their work with their peers and families.
RR #9
1) One good method of establishing prior knowledge is by using a KWL activity for the students. This activity is good for both the students and the teachers when used correctly. It allows the students to showcase their prior knowledge and also lets them show what they learned from the current activity. It is beneficial for the teachers because it can help guide the instruction.
2) It is important to set an anchor when starting a project. Upon completion of an activity to access the students prior knowledge, then the teacher can anchor the lesson they are trying to complete. This allows the teacher to see where every one of the students is in their learning abilities. By establishing an anchor, the teacher can see what students may need more work and which students to give more guidance during the project.
3) One good way to assess students after a project is to have them create something new. When the students create something new, this allows them to summarize all of their learning from the previous project and put it into their own words. This also shows if the students are capable of using what they learned and putting it into a new context.
Another way to assess student learning is by allowing to create a podcast. By creating a podcast, students are able to highlight what they learned and did throughout their projects. The podcast also allows them to apply what they learned through the creation of the podcast. Once the podcast is finished, provide the students feedback to let them know how they performed.
4) This chapter is relatable to my own project in regards to the prior knowledge piece. In my project we are allowing students to choose their research topic from either a culture that they are from or even on they are interested in. By allowing the students to choose, the kids will be picking something that they are emotionally invested in. When students pick what they want, they are bound to have some prior knowledge or experience on what they have chosen.
2) It is important to set an anchor when starting a project. Upon completion of an activity to access the students prior knowledge, then the teacher can anchor the lesson they are trying to complete. This allows the teacher to see where every one of the students is in their learning abilities. By establishing an anchor, the teacher can see what students may need more work and which students to give more guidance during the project.
3) One good way to assess students after a project is to have them create something new. When the students create something new, this allows them to summarize all of their learning from the previous project and put it into their own words. This also shows if the students are capable of using what they learned and putting it into a new context.
Another way to assess student learning is by allowing to create a podcast. By creating a podcast, students are able to highlight what they learned and did throughout their projects. The podcast also allows them to apply what they learned through the creation of the podcast. Once the podcast is finished, provide the students feedback to let them know how they performed.
4) This chapter is relatable to my own project in regards to the prior knowledge piece. In my project we are allowing students to choose their research topic from either a culture that they are from or even on they are interested in. By allowing the students to choose, the kids will be picking something that they are emotionally invested in. When students pick what they want, they are bound to have some prior knowledge or experience on what they have chosen.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Reading Reflection 9
1. There are many ways to asses the prior knowledge of your students. Its important to know where each student is coming from so that as a teacher you can see how far they have come/need to go to reach their goal. A way to do this is to establish anchors, to see where students are.
2. As mentioned previously the anchors that should be used to know where your students started at so they and you can see how far they have come. They are important because when it is established the students know how far they have come and it is easier to set up differentiated instruction.
3. There are many ways to see what students have learned over the course of the project. One of the ways is by have them create something new which makes them summarize what they learned. This way the learning process extends. Another way would be to have students "publish" the project and show it to the class to teach them.
4. This chapter relates to our project because we don't want our students to drop the project once it is done. Also, it is crucial to know how much information our students knew coming into the project to see if it was a success in them learning what they were supposed to learn.
2. As mentioned previously the anchors that should be used to know where your students started at so they and you can see how far they have come. They are important because when it is established the students know how far they have come and it is easier to set up differentiated instruction.
3. There are many ways to see what students have learned over the course of the project. One of the ways is by have them create something new which makes them summarize what they learned. This way the learning process extends. Another way would be to have students "publish" the project and show it to the class to teach them.
4. This chapter relates to our project because we don't want our students to drop the project once it is done. Also, it is crucial to know how much information our students knew coming into the project to see if it was a success in them learning what they were supposed to learn.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Reading Reflection 8
1. To build connections and branch out beyond the classroom is important to every student in the classroom. You are able to expand on what the students already know and it can help them to apply what they know to the world around them. This can help with students to learn how to network with each other which is also a 21st century skill they can take with them into their future.
2. The EAST initiative model stands for Environmental And Spatial Technologies, A great thing about this model is that it looks at real world problems. This is a huge benefit to students and it makes it so much more real for them. It also focus's a lot on learning through technology. It is utilized a lot more than it already is.
3. When you allow students to "lead" a project it gives them the courage to step up and be a leader. I know I was not a student leader until I came to college and I wish I would have had these little opportunities when I was younger. It gives students confidence in themselves and their abilities.
4. This chapter applies to my group project because we all have had to step into the outside world and learn more about our topics. We have had to be the leaders in our project and in our sub sections of the project, just as if we were teachers in a classroom.
2. The EAST initiative model stands for Environmental And Spatial Technologies, A great thing about this model is that it looks at real world problems. This is a huge benefit to students and it makes it so much more real for them. It also focus's a lot on learning through technology. It is utilized a lot more than it already is.
3. When you allow students to "lead" a project it gives them the courage to step up and be a leader. I know I was not a student leader until I came to college and I wish I would have had these little opportunities when I was younger. It gives students confidence in themselves and their abilities.
4. This chapter applies to my group project because we all have had to step into the outside world and learn more about our topics. We have had to be the leaders in our project and in our sub sections of the project, just as if we were teachers in a classroom.
Reading Reflection 8
- There are many ways to build connections outside of the classroom. One of these ways is encouraging students to use digital tools to branch out and share ideas with others. This could be done through blogs or digital story telling projects. Both of these methods allows students to gain an authentic audience that is outside of their own classroom. Another way to build connections outside of the classroom is to have students talk with an expert in the field of their study. When trying to learn about a topic it is natural to contact an expert, so by having students do so they are creating that connection with someone who knows more than they do about the topic, who is out of the classroom, and may come into play later down the road. Lastly, a different way to build connections is to have students work with students outside of their classroom. By having the students talking to their peers who aren't involved in the process they will get to see different thoughts and opinions on the matter than what they normally get to see in the classroom. These peers can be from a different grade, or even a different country if using digital tools comes into play with this idea as well.
- The EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technologies) Initiative Model is a network of schools who are using technology to sole problems and make changes within their communities. An example of an improvement made to their community is the middle school and high school class that paired together to create a documentary on a Japanese-American internment camp which most people in the area had forgotten about. The four basic ideas for the EAST model include
- Student-driven learning: Students need to be responsible for their own learning.
- Authentic project based learning: Students should be engaged in solving real problems in their communities.
- Technology at work: Students need access to the relevant technologies that professionals use to solve real problems.
- Collaboration: When students collaborate in teams to pursue authentic projects they accomplish more than one person can do alone.
- By allowing students to lead their own projects they take more ownership of their learning. When students come up with the idea themselves, it is something that interests them making the learning more enjoyable and students will want to learn more. By having students wanting to learn more, more inquiry happens. Thus making the whole project much more authentic when the students lead it.
- This chapter is relivent to our project because we are encouraging our students to create those bonds outside of the classroom. We want them to talk to experts in the field, use digital tools to make connections, and talk to their peers (inside and outside of our school) about what they know about certain topics.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
RR #8
1) There are several ways to build connections and branch out beyond the classroom. These include:
4) In regards to my own project, the section about letting students lead really resonated with me. In our classroom kitchen project the children have to be the leaders. Without the students leading the project, the knowledge gained would be significantly less. Also in regards to my project specifically, without the students leading the ending class cook book would not be a possibility.
- The use of digital tools is a powerful way for children to build connections outside of the classroom. By using technology they can reach a more diverse group of people than simply the other kids in their classroom. This new group of people can include children from other schools (in a different city, state, or even country), parents, peoples of their community, and also other family members. Popular digital tools to connect outside the classroom include Skype, text or instant messaging, or even a podcast.
- Another way to build an outside connection is by talking to an expert in the particular field you are researching. This strategy seems like the most obvious one because when u are unfamiliar with a topic you naturally gravitate to someone who is familiar with that topic.
- Another good way to branch outside of the classroom is by expanding the learning circle for your project. Instead of simply just the children's class, they can reach kids from other schools or even countries. This gives the children the opportunity to socialize with different people then they are used to and discuss project they are doing. This type of branching out is made possible through the use of technology.
- Student driven learning
- Authentic PBL
- Use of technology as tools
- Collaboration
4) In regards to my own project, the section about letting students lead really resonated with me. In our classroom kitchen project the children have to be the leaders. Without the students leading the project, the knowledge gained would be significantly less. Also in regards to my project specifically, without the students leading the ending class cook book would not be a possibility.
Monday, November 3, 2014
RR # 7
1) There are three level of classroom discussion that can take place. These include teacher to teacher, student to student, and teacher to student.
Teacher to Teacher: Using your colleagues to help keep you accountable, especially in project management and design. When planning a new project, it is always helpful to have a second pair of eyes and ears to help you out.
Student to Student: It is important for students to keep in contact with each other while they are creating a project. This helps students keep their group mates accountable, and also helps one another stay organized. This process is also important because it allows students to challenge each other every day.
Teacher to Student: This holds a less significant role in a PBL classroom. In a PBL situation, students are the leaders of the discussion and questioning. Teachers become leaders from a far, and facilitate when needed.
2) When your students are actively engaged in PBL it is important to occasionally check in on them and help keep them on track. Popular questions include:
Procedural Questions: Are we in line with our goals? Are we on schedule?
Teamwork Questions: Are we working well as a team? Is everyone contributing productively?
Understanding Questions: Are we on task? Since that isn't working have you considered this?
Self-assessment: How do you feel the project is progressing?
3) There are many benefits for the students when technology is part of a project. Technology is successful when it helps a student reach the goals of a project, and doesn't become distracting. Technology is also helpful because it can seriously aid in the organization of a project. A final key to using technology is that it lets students broaden their horizons. Technology can help open doors to a student that they never knew where there.
4) There are two big 21st century skills that can make or break a project; troubleshooting and conflict management. When students and teachers are confronted with troubleshooting, effective project managers will take of the challenge. This is also a good chance for the teacher to explain to students that real world projects may come with real world challenges. Conflict management could be considered one of the deciding factors in the success of a project. Conflict management helps dictate teamwork.
5) One of the main concepts from this chapter that relates to my project is the questions for checking in portion. This would be a very important tool to use in a project like mine. Using these questions would help keep the children on task and concentrated on the end result of the project; the food celebration.
Teacher to Teacher: Using your colleagues to help keep you accountable, especially in project management and design. When planning a new project, it is always helpful to have a second pair of eyes and ears to help you out.
Student to Student: It is important for students to keep in contact with each other while they are creating a project. This helps students keep their group mates accountable, and also helps one another stay organized. This process is also important because it allows students to challenge each other every day.
Teacher to Student: This holds a less significant role in a PBL classroom. In a PBL situation, students are the leaders of the discussion and questioning. Teachers become leaders from a far, and facilitate when needed.
2) When your students are actively engaged in PBL it is important to occasionally check in on them and help keep them on track. Popular questions include:
Procedural Questions: Are we in line with our goals? Are we on schedule?
Teamwork Questions: Are we working well as a team? Is everyone contributing productively?
Understanding Questions: Are we on task? Since that isn't working have you considered this?
Self-assessment: How do you feel the project is progressing?
3) There are many benefits for the students when technology is part of a project. Technology is successful when it helps a student reach the goals of a project, and doesn't become distracting. Technology is also helpful because it can seriously aid in the organization of a project. A final key to using technology is that it lets students broaden their horizons. Technology can help open doors to a student that they never knew where there.
4) There are two big 21st century skills that can make or break a project; troubleshooting and conflict management. When students and teachers are confronted with troubleshooting, effective project managers will take of the challenge. This is also a good chance for the teacher to explain to students that real world projects may come with real world challenges. Conflict management could be considered one of the deciding factors in the success of a project. Conflict management helps dictate teamwork.
5) One of the main concepts from this chapter that relates to my project is the questions for checking in portion. This would be a very important tool to use in a project like mine. Using these questions would help keep the children on task and concentrated on the end result of the project; the food celebration.
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