Final Inspiration

Reading Reflection #11

1.       Description of what occurs as a result of using the Project-based learning approach

-          Students who use the project-based learning approach learn to effectively collaborate with peers to meet a goal, learn to communicate with peers and mentors, and learn to work through authentic ideas and problems with the incorporation of technology. Teachers who use the project-based learning approach develop a deeper relationship with the students as they work to solve authentic issues and problems and through reflection.

2.       Discussion on ways to “bring your project home”

-          There are a number of different ways to “bring a project home” or share projects after they are finished with the community. One way is by sharing the project with an already existing network, such as iEARN or Global SchoolNet. Another way could be by creating a library or display the projects in the school library. Another way could be by publishing the project.

3.       Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project

-          The students completing our project will be sharing their completed project, a workout video, with their family and friends during a “movie night”. This is another example of “bringing a project home” and giving the students the opportunity to share all their hard work throughout the unit.

Ch. 11 Reading Reflection

1. Description of what occurs as a result of using the Project-based learning approach.

·         As a result of project-based learning, students learn how to work collaboratively during an authentic learning experience. Teachers learn the dynamics of each student which will help them plan for upcoming projects.

2. Discussion on ways to “bring your project home”.

·         One way to bring your project home is by entering it into a contest or publishing it on the Web or in print. This is a great way to show off your work and provide resources for others.

3. Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

·         In our project, our students will be throwing a movie night to show off their projects. By presenting their completed work, the students can educate family and community members about what they have learned during the unit.

Reading Reflection 11

1.       Description of what occurs as a result of using the Project-based learning approach.

Many things occur because of the Project-based learning approach.  It gives us ideas for our next project and students are able to look back and recall what they learned. Students are also able to reflect on the project and are able to see what they could have done differently or better. Students mature and work together to finish the project, which is an extremely important life skill.

2.       Discussion on ways to “bring your project home”.

Some ways that can finally wrap up the project are looking back and critiquing what you have done. This is the best way to improve as a teacher and should be done after every project so that the next one we teach can be better. We should also share what we have discovered with other colleagues and maybe even students. To do this we can create a project library or by using a network for teachers from all around the world. This will help you to become a resource for them, and they will seek your help and you can do the same.

We can also put the project in a contest. This will help us to see how well we did in the eyes of others and our projects will gain more exposure. You will also be able to discuss the project with colleagues and gain ideas from them. The final way to bring it home is to enjoy what we all have accomplished. Having students finish a project in PBL is a big accomplishment and we should be proud of ourselves (much like our students will be) at the end of it. Much like our students we will have done a lot of learning and will do a lot of reflecting on the process, all which will make us better teachers.

3.       Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

This is really important because I think a lot of the book focused on what our students should do but didn’t really remind us what we should be doing in entirety. I also think that we should share what we learned with people because that will make us better teachers, especially if they have comments or suggestions that may help future projects. I also like the contest idea, obviously this  is great for the students but also reflects A LOT on the teacher. I think we need to remember all of these things to keep our projects fresh and improving while we continue to work with Project-based learning.

Reading Reflection #10

1.       Discussion on the importance of setting aside time for reflection

Setting aside time for reflection is important for many reasons. First, reflection gives the students the opportunity to feel good about their accomplishments. They are able to look back at their work and either write or talk about the successes, failures, and challenges. Second, reflection also helps aid in processing and making the material learned stick. Third, reflection helps students reveal things they may not have thought about before; for example, how was the project important to you, what did you learn, how did you grow, etc.

2.       Discussion on the reason students need to reflect and elaborate.

As mentioned above, reflection is an important part of the learning process for many reasons. Asking students to reflect and to be elaborate can lead to further explorations, more learning experiences, and more knowledge gained. Reflecting and having students elaborate during reflection gives the students an opportunity to express their curiosity further. Students may still have unanswered questions or new topics they want to explore after a project is finished.

3.       Discussion on how schools build tradition and identity.

A school’s identity normally reflects that of the school’s traditions. Traditions within the school exemplify an expectation for excellence. It is important to involve the school and community in establishing a tradition and identity. The text states “when families, the community, and students coming up through the grades know what you are up to, you have a foundation for tradition” (pg. 150). Students who participate in a tradition feel privileged and show that through their hard work.

4.       Discussion on the importance of celebrating a project.

It’s important after a project is finished to show off the students’ hard work. Displaying the students’ work gives the students a sense of accomplishment and pride, as well as an opportunity to share their work with the school and the community. Putting on an event, creating a blog, or holding a party is some ways in which a teacher could celebrate a project.

5.       Discussion on the concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

Our group agrees that it is important to celebrate a project and to show off the students’ hard work. The students in our 5^th grade class will be putting together a workout video that they will share with friends and families at the end of the unit.

Beginning Outline

Hey guys, this is what I wrote down.

These were the pages we had decided we need:

1. Home: Inspiration, email address

2. Types of Exercise: Aerobic Exercise (link movie), Lesson plan on Types of Exercise

3. How Frequent to Exercise: How Frequent to Exercise Lesson Plan

4. Benefits of Exercise: Benefits of Exercise Video, Benefits of Exercise Lesson Plan

5. Creating A Movie: Creating a Movie Lesson Plan (Nora's Extra), Collecting Data on What Students and Teachers know/dont know.

6. Planning the Movie Night: Lesson Plan on Food Groups, Snacks to have at the movie night. (Jaimie's Extra)

7. Standards


And then in another section I have the extra things we need to have on the website but weren't sure where to put them written down:

Podcast
Map
Penpals
Lauryn's Second Lesson (because we didn't know what this was on)

Reading Reflection 10

1. Discussion on the importance of setting aside time for reflection.

Students need to look back at how much they accomplished and feel good about it. This also gives them a time to remember what they learned, because sometimes it is hard when they day is so hectic. They also may realize the things they really enjoyed, their growth and what they will take from this project and use in new projects.

2. Discussion on the reason students need to reflect and elaborate.

If students are reflecting it will really help them to work on the next project and use the tools they learned in their project in life. They will also see what parts of the project they really liked. By elaborating they will realize what questions they have that they want answered. We can also ask them where they would like to go next with their learning. This is giving students an even bigger responsibility and they take hold of their own learning.

3. Discussion on how schools build tradition and identity.

By starting our students in a project that we want to become a tradition, we need to make other students and parents aware. Younger students will hear about the project from siblings or older students will have younger students excited about the projects that await them. The community will become involved when asking experts to come talk to students becomes a normal thing and they will be eager to share their information every year. Parents will also hear about the projects from their children, or other parents, and be aware of the projects and be excited to help out their children in their learning.

4. Discussion on the importance celebrating a project.

We need to show students, parents and administrators the great work that students have done! Students should also feel the pride in all of their work and be able to show it to others to help them learn too. Showing off learning to parents and other students can also help to build tradition because they will see the final work of the students and see how interesting it is and become excited about doing these projects.

5. Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

I think this chapter was really great because we need to be reminded that we will want to fit as much learning into the day as we can but reflecting and celebrating the work is really important in the learning process. It can really help to keep our students focused and remembering what their goal is. I also think that starting tradition is a cool idea, especially if it gets younger kids excited about coming to your classroom.

Chapter 10 Reflection

1. Discussion on the importance of setting aside time for reflection.

·         It is important to set aside time at the end of a project to reflect on where students have been and what they have learned. In the text the author stated that when students take the time to reflect back on their learning the concepts are more likely to stick with the student. It is also important that students not only reflect on what they have learned but also reflect on why it was or was not a meaningful experience to them. This reflection will help them learn about how they learn best for upcoming projects.

2. Discussion on the reason students need to reflect and elaborate.

·         When students take time to reflect on the projects they have done they begin to take ownership of their learning. Students can reflect back and elaborate on how they think the project was successful or unsuccessful, how the project was meaningful to them, what they learned and what they want to learn about next. Reflection and elaboration on the students’ part is not only beneficial for students but it will also guide the teacher in determining where the class is going next.

3.    Discussion on how schools build tradition and identity.

·         Schools build tradition and identity by completing exemplary work. Whether it is in sports, symphony, marching band, or academics, schools are recognized when they achieve excellence in a particular area. The text talks about how teachers can build tradition and identity in their schools through project-based learning. Teachers who plan creative and interactive lessons that result in student achievement will be the teachers that will be recognized throughout the school and the community.

4. Discussion on the importance celebrating a project.

·         Celebrating a project is important because it gives students the opportunity to be proud and show off their work to the rest of the school and community. Students can take a step back and reflect on the struggles they may have faced and all that they have learned throughout the unit. Celebrations are also a great way for schools to build their identity because they allow the community to see first-hand what students are doing inside the classroom.

5. Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

·         This chapter relates to our project because we were planning on celebrating our final project by throwing a movie release party for the families of our students. This chapter talked about how planning a celebration is not only a fun way to end a project but it also gives students time to reflect on all of the things they have learned throughout the unit.

Class 4/2

Hey Nora,

Just wanted to give you an update on the website.
On the rubric it says that there needs to be a common design throughout the website. The font is "normal" and the font size is 15. Placement of images is on the left hand side.

Do you mind typing up the list that we created last week in class? Lauryn and I tried to go through each subheading and note what needs to be included, but I feel like we are missing some.


Thanks, Jaimie

Reading Reflection 9

1. Description of a method of understanding prior-knowledge of students.

First, having students fill out a KWL chart will help us assess their prior knowledge on the subject, it will also give them a chance to recall and see the information they already know. Using anchors will also get a sense for where students are before starting and as the project grows, how they are progressing.

2. Discussion on the importance of establishing anchors for a project.

Using anchors will help students realize their learning abilities and where they are currently at before starting the project. It will also help teachers know where the student is and if the students are reaching the anchors throughout the project it will show that the project is successful and the students are learning and progressing.

3. Description of several ways to assess what students learned during the project.

Having students create something new will really show how knowledgeable they are about the topic and what they have learned in their own form of presentation. Another way to asses students is to evaluate them based on the standards that professionals use. Students will be working like professionals during their projects so assessing them in this way will show how far they have come and what they have learned. Another way to assess is to have them submit their projects in a contest or for publication. My teachers had us do this many times and I believe that this would make assessing more fun and students will work harder when they know their final work will go into a contest.

4. Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

It is really important to know where students stand before a project so we can make sure to assess them on how far they’ve come. We also must know how to assess them when the type of project is so different from the usual learning in the classroom.

Reading Reflection #9

1. Description of a method of understanding prior-knowledge of students.

-          There are several activities teachers can use to gain an understanding of student’s prior knowledge. One activity would include the KWL. Not all students will be on the same level of understanding starting a project; a KWL will help a teacher establish anchors based on student responses to the KWL.

2. Discussion on the importance of establishing anchors for a project.

-          Establishing anchors for a project allows the teacher to gain a sense of where students are starting and how far they are going as they work to meet the learning goals. Establishing anchors can help the teacher measure the distance each individual student travels as a learner.

3. Description of several ways to assess what students learned during the project.

-          Teachers can use a wide variety of things to assess what students have learned during a project. Teachers can use multiple choice assessments, matching assessments, videos, podcasts, blogs, analysis, and real-world models as assessments.

4. Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

-          As teachers, we will use ideas from this chapter to develop ways to assess our students understanding before, during, and after a project. Students completing our project will be creating a workout video as their assessment; showing friends and family what they have learned about exercising.

Chapter 9 Reflection

1. Description of a method of understanding prior-knowledge of students.

·         There are several ways that teachers can become familiar with their students’ prior knowledge. One way to incorporate technology is by giving students an online survey on SurveyMonkey that asks them about what they know about the topic. Teachers can also have students fill out a KWL chart or have a class discussion that asks students about their current knowledge.

2. Discussion on the importance of establishing anchors for a project.

·         Anchors are important because they give teachers a sense of where students are starting out. This will help them better plan students’ learning goals for lessons and will help both the teacher and the students be successful.

3. Description of several ways to assess what students learned during the project.

·         There are several ways to assess student learning. Teachers can use multiple choice tests, interviews, videos, podcasts, blogs, work samples, or real-world assessments to see what students learned in the lesson. The important thing to look for when assessing is that students can summarize and synthesize the information that was taught and that they can apply that information.

4. Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

·         In our project, students will be assessed on the movie that they will make that synthesizes all the information they learned in the unit. The students will present their movies to their families and the rest of the school during an open house.

Chapter 8 Reflection

1. Description of some ways to build connections and branch out beyond the classroom.

·         One benefit of technology is that it gives teachers and students the opportunity to make connections outside of the classroom. Teachers and students can connect with diverse audiences (family, peers, community members, experts, etc.) through technologies such as blogs, email and Skype.

2. Description of the EAST Initiative Model.

·         The Environmental and Spatial Technologies Initiative Model demonstrates using technology for a real purpose. Students participating in the EAST Initiative Model become familiar with real technologies that experts use in the field to solve problems and make improvements. The EAST Initiative Model is built on four key ideas: student driven learning, authentic project-based learning, using technology as tools, and collaboration.

3. Discussion on some reasons to let students “lead” their projects.

·         During project-based learning it is important that students learn to “lead” their own projects. Students are able to make projects authentic to their lives when they take charge of their own learning. During project-based learning students should be given the responsibility to lead their own project and teachers should be there for support and collaboration.

4. Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

·         The concept about letting students lead their project is an idea that I would use in my own classroom. In our project we are working with fifth graders. I think that fifth graders are capable of taking ownership of their learning. This would be beneficial for students because by letting students take the lead in a project it makes learning personal.

Chapter 8 Reading Reflection

Your reflection should include:

1. Description of some ways to build connections and branch out beyond the classroom.

Utilizing Digital tools is probably the best way to be able to do this in our PBL. Having students create blogs and digital stories gives them an audience. They want to do well so that their audience is impressed and learns from their project. Also, having students talk to experts from around the world will help them to become knowledgeable and researched so that they will be able to discuss the topics with them. Having the students virtually scuba dive with experts sounds so cool to me.

2. Description of the EAST Initiative Model.

The EAST model has four essential ideas. Student driven learning is the first, which is really important for student learning. The next is authentic project based learning, which is students working to solve actual problems in their communities. The third idea is that students use real world technology to research and solve these problems. And the final thing is collaboration where students work together to learn and solve problems. I think these things are all essential if we want students to learn and realize that they are the ones who can solve the problems in their communities.

3. Discussion on some reasons to let students “lead” their projects.

The reason this is so important is because students will lead to projects that are meaningful to them. They will create projects that will help fix problems that they care about. I know from experience that when you are working on something that has deep meaning to you, you will work much harder and want to make a great project. I also believe that students should work on things they care about so they can carry this idea through the rest of their lives.

4. Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

I think this chapter gives us a lot to think about as teachers. That we really need to focus on the idea of students fixing the problems in communities and working on projects that matter to them. But I was thinking about the curriculum. We can’t always let students lead because we need to follow it. So at what time should we let students lead the project?

Reading Reflection #8

1)      Description of some ways to build connections and branch out beyond the classroom.

-          As teachers, we need to take advantage of all learning experiences as they come. Ways to ensure that such learning experiences occur include preparing your students to make connections with experts and connecting with a community outside city limits. Students who are given the opportunity to consult with experts are exposed to real life situations that will better prepare them for their future. Classrooms that make connections with communities over long distances are also expanding on the learning experiences.

2)      Description of the EAST Initiative Model.

-          The EAST Initiative Model, Environmental and Spatial Technologies Initiative is a network of students that have been demonstrating the benefits of using technology for real life purposes. The students in this network make use of geospatial technologies and multimedia tools that are commonly used in professional labs and studios. The EAST model is built on four essential ideas. The first idea is student-driven learning; students are responsible for their own learning. The second idea is authentic project-based; students are involved in solving real problems in their communities. The third idea is using technology as tools; students use the technology that professionals use to solve real problems. The fourth idea is collaboration.

3)      Discussion on some reasons to let students “lead” their projects.

-          As a teacher, we may feel that is it our responsibility to do all the teaching, to always be in the teacher role. While it is true that we are responsible for teaching, I don’t necessarily feel it is just our responsibility. The students can also have some of the responsibility of teaching, or leading their projects. Creating a project idea, initiating conversations, asking questions of the teacher and of experts, and expanding on project ideas after the project is complete are all ways students can take the lead of their own projects.

4)      Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

-          The ideas from this chapter relate to my project in that I understand now that it is important to let students take the lead and responsibility of their learning and learning experiences. The students, completing my project, have been given the opportunity to connect with students in Australia, which practices the idea of expanding the learning circle.

Reading Reflection #7

1.        Description of the levels of the classroom discussions.

It is important to remember, as a teacher in training, to ask good questions in order to facilitate discussion. “Good” questions are more complex questions that require more thinking and can be answered several different ways. Classroom discussion is broken down into levels during project implementation. The first level is teacher to teacher. This level is the planning level. This level gives teachers an opportunity to work and plan together, make sure all learning goals will be met through the project, create learning objectives, and format an assessment. The second level is student to student. At this level, students interact with one another about their learning experiences. Communicating as a team is a major skill that is encouraged during this level. The third level is teacher to student. Project-based classrooms are trying to move away from the traditional teacher to student interaction where the teacher dominates the lecture. It is important, as a teacher, that you spend time modeling and then interacting with the students as they explore and learn as a team.

2.       Discussion on the questions for “checking in” on students during a project.

Because students are given the opportunity to explore and learn as an individual or in groups, learning is likely to go in different directions and at different speeds. As a teacher, it is important to plan and implement certain questions that allow you, as a teacher, to get the necessary information about your student’s progress and understanding. These questions can also facilitate learning and understanding and can move the project forward if students are stuck or struggling. “Checking in” questions can be different for each part of the project. Procedural, teamwork, understanding, and self assessment are all different parts of the project that may require different types of questions. Procedural questions keep students on track, and enforce the schedule and certain deadlines. Teamwork questions help assess team dynamics; do the students get along and work well together, are students contributing equally, are the students managing conflict themselves, or relying on others for help are some typical teamwork “checking in” questions. Understanding questions requires the teacher to spend time observing the teams as they work and to listen in on their conversations. Self assessment questions help the teacher find out what students are thinking about the project. These questions typically encourage self assessment and reflection.

3.       Discussion on the benefits to students when optimizing the use of technology.

As a teacher, it is your decision to select the technologies you want to integrate. Sometimes students may not know or understand how to use the tools you have selected, so it may be necessary to plan and conduct mini-lessons for an introduction. During implementation, it is important for teachers to check in with the students to make sure that the technology choices are benefitting the students and reaching the learning goals. Teachers need to make sure that the technology and tools are optimizing learning and not becoming a distraction. Asking questions can help maximize the potential of the tools being used duing the project. Checking in questions can also give insight into the level of success for the tools used.

4.       Discussion on the 21^st century skills that can make or break a project.

Troubleshooting and management are two 21^st century skills that could either make or break a project. Troubleshooting arises when students can or cannot deal with the problems that arise during the project. Remind students that real-world projects come with real-world problems; help students learn from these setbacks and continue forward. Conflict management is the ability to detect conflict among team members. Teachers should help these students learn to manage their own team conflict. Real-world projects come with real-world conflicts; it should become another learning opportunity for teacher and students.

5.       Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your project/topic.

The ideas and concepts from this chapter gave me the necessary information to help me work collaboratively with my students during projects. I know now what kind of questions to ask during the different part of the project.

Chapter 7 Reflection

1. Description of the levels of classroom discussions.

This chapter discussed three levels of classroom discussions:

·         Teacher to teacher- Collaboration between instructors is an important aspect of project based learning. Conversations between teachers will most likely touch on what is going right and wrong during a project. This leads to better project outcomes and student success.

·         Student to student- Collaboration between students is also an important aspect of project based learning. Throughout the project, students should be discussing their learning experiences with their teammates. By having student to student conversations, students are learning good communication skills, which are important for students to explore during project based learning.

·         Teacher to student- Teacher to student conversations are a staple in all traditional classrooms. However, it is important for teachers to individually meet with their students to discuss his/her own learning. Teacher to student conversations give teachers the opportunity to listen to their students’ thoughts and push for higher-order thinking.

2.   Discussion on the questions for “checking in” on students during a project.

During project based learning, students groups will be going in different directions and working at different speeds. It is important that teachers check in and ask the right kinds of questions to guide their students’ learning. Based on the information the teacher wants to obtain from the group, the book suggests asking four different types of questions:

·         Procedural- These questions ask students where they are in relation to milestones and deadlines.

·         Teamwork- These questions inquire about team dynamics.

·         Understanding- These questions are based on group conversations, they often involve suggestions for further inquiry or research.

·         Self-assessment- These questions encourage students to reflect on different challenges or things that went well throughout the project.

3.   Discussion on the benefits to students when optimizing the use of technology.

·         Throughout the project, it is important that teachers are checking in with their students to make sure that technologies are being used for optimizing learning and not serving as a distraction. Teachers should check if the technologies are helping students meet their learning goals, if they are helping students stay organized and if students can use the technology to reach outside of the classroom. These questions are important to consider. If the answer is questionable, the teacher should reevaluate whether that specific technology should be kept as part of the project.

4.   Discussion on the 21st-century skills that can make or break a project.

·         Troubleshooting and management are two important 21^st century skills that could make or break a project. Troubleshooting is the ability to solve problems as they arise during a project. This is an important skill for students to learn in the classroom so they can take that skill into their real world professions.  Conflict management is the ability to pay close attention to team dynamics and manage team conflicts. This is also an important skill that students can use during project based learning that will help them when they eventually go out into the real-world.

     5.    Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

·         The concepts discussed in this chapter will help me work with my students during our project. As I walk around the classroom listening to students’ conversations, I will know the different types of questions to ask students based on the information I want to obtain from them. I will also challenge my students to develop their troubleshooting and management skills as I know that these are important skills for them to learn.