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.