Reading Reflection #3

1.Discussion on what should be considered in finding “the Big Idea” for a project.

·         In finding “the Big Idea” for a project, one should consider what the national standards are for that subject area.  Teachers need to ask themselves, “What do I want my students to be able to do at the end of this lesson?” After they have created the goal for the lesson they should ask themselves, “Why is it important that my students learn this?” When teachers ask themselves this question, they can begin to plan authentic lessons that focus around real-life situations that use the skill that will be taught.

2.Discussion on the 2lst Century skills.

·         One of the most important educational reforms that have taken place in the last decade is the inclusion of teaching 21st century skills to students. For decades, educational curriculum has used Bloom’s Taxonomy as a guide. Past generations have focused on the lower-order categories such as knowledge, comprehension and application. These categories are a very important basis and cannot be excluded, however, in order to prepare students for the 21^st century teachers have begun to focus on the higher-order categories of analysis, evaluation and synthesis.

3.Discussion on the 21st Century literacies.

·         The book discusses many different opinions related to 21^st century literacies. enGauge states that “Digital-Age Literacy” involves “scientific, economic, and technological literacies; visual and information literacies; and multicultural literacy and global awareness” (p. 48). The UNESCO states that “literacy is the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts” (p. 49). However one defines it, it seems that it is agreed upon that literacy is much more than reading and writing. It is the culmination of different content areas that one uses to problem solve. It is important that teachers understand that to be successful in the Digital Age, students need to be competent in the 21^st Century literacies.

4.Discussion on each of the essential learning functions.

·         There are eight essential learning functions discussed in this chapter:

1.       Ubiquity: Learning Inside and Outside the Classroom, and All the Time: With the growing technologies of the 21^st century, it is becoming easier for students to learn new information through a variety of contexts. Teachers should encourage students to gain information in new and exciting ways, such as using a laptop or cell phone to go on the Internet, watch movies/documentaries on Netflix or Youtube that relate to the topic they are studying.

2.       Deep Learning: There are many different ways students can find authentic information other than using their textbooks. Students can read actual documents on the Internet or in the library rather than relying on the summaries of these documents in their books. When students are able to look at additional materials rather than one textbook, they can begin think more deeply about the topic and form their own opinions.

3.       Making Things Visible and Discussable: Many times making things visible helps students learn better. For example, if a teacher is discussing the Ancient Greeks, it may help for students to visually see Athens, the Mediterranean Sea and other historical places by using Google Earth during the discussion. This will help students make connections and provide a basis for deeper meaning.

4.       Expressing Ourselves, Sharing Ideas, Building Community: Students are professionals at using social networks. It would be interesting for them to use these social networks to create a better understanding of the material they are covering in class. The example on page 50 provides a great example of how one teacher incorporated Myspace with Shakespeare.

5.       Collaboration- Teaching and Learning with Others: Collaboration is the most important part of Project-Based Learning. Teachers need to understand that learning should not be so isolating for students. In the real-world, few jobs rely on the work of solely on person. Great work requires the collaboration of many people with many great ideas.

6.       Research: Bad research can be far too easy to find in the 21^st century. As teachers, we need to teach our students how to research effectively through a wide range of medias. It is very easy to find anything on any database, but I think it is still important that they know how to research material using textbooks and encyclopedias as well.

7.       Project Management: Planning and Organizing: Project-based learning takes time, planning and organization on the part of both the teacher and student. It is important that instructors set their students up for success by teaching organization and time management skills before diving into an involved project.

8.       Reflection and Iteration: The learning process is not over even after the project itself is finished. It is important that teacher and student reflect back on what went right and what they could do better for next time. Students can reconsider ideas that may have worked to make them better or more effective. Students can incorporate technology by writing their reflections on a blog.

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

·         In our project, our students will be using 21^st century skills and literacies. In order to prepare students for their futures outside of the classroom, we need to teach them not only the knowledge base, but also how to think. When students use their knowledge and apply it through analysis and evaluation, they are truly learning.