Blog Post #9: What Can Teachers and Students Teach Us About Project Based Learning

Teachers and students can teach us many things about project based learning. In Seven Essentials for Project Based Learning, Mr. Larmer and Mr. Mergendoller give details and insight of what teachers/students can teach us. These seven essentials are:

1. A Need to Know- Teachers can show an interesting video to get the students attention. This can potentially create discussion among students.
2. A Driving Question- A leading question can engage student interest.
3. Student Voice and Choice- Giving students a choice in how the assignment is done gives them a purpose and a voice in their project. They feel motivated because they have a say in how the project is completed.
4. 21st Century Skills- Incorporating 21st century skills will allow students to collaborate and build upon their skills.
5. Inquiry and Innovation- Letting students create their own experiment allows them to connect to the project at a deeper level. They have a personal connection to the project which will motivate them.
6. Feedback and Revision- Receiving feedback on projects will make them more meaningful . Students can use rubrics given to them by the teacher to give feedback and suggest revisions.
7. A Publicly Presented Project- Presenting the projects to people other than classmates and teachers gives students an incentive to do their best. Projects can be presented to senators, principal, or to their community.

In Project Based Learning for Teachers, teachers are introduced to PBL and the benefits it can have in the classroom. PBL changes the classroom from a “playing school” method to an engaging project. Students are given the freedom  to use various websites to create their projects. Using PBL can motivate the students to be creative and research so they are actually learning the information rather than just hearing it. This video explains what PBL is and what teachers can go in the classroom. It also gives examples of various websites students can use to create their presentation.

The Watery Ketchup Problem is solved by two high school seniors as a class project. They were given a year to research and created a model using a 3D printer. They conducted market research and their solution can potentially sell  for more than it costs to make. These students created a solution to water in the ketchup giving viewers a first hand look at what project based learning can do. This project allowed these students to look at a problem and come up with a solution.

In High School Teachers Meet the Challenges of PBL Implementation, teachers were given the task to incorporate project based learning. There were subjects, such as literature, that PBL was seen as a problem because teachers didn't want the context to lose its meaning. Teachers would constantly meet up to create PBL activities, but there were certain concepts they couldn't incorporate it in. They noticed that PBL motivated their students and saw an increase in grades. Implementing PBL at this school was only in its 3 year and still has 2 years to go.

In Project Based Learning in PE, the author explains that PBL can be used in physical education but not in a way that people would think. High schoolers would come up with physical activities  for middle schoolers while implementing the 6 NASPE standards. Creating these activities would also  incorporate Bloom's Taxonomy. Students would analyze various factors that could affect physical activities such as age and motivation. Using PBL in physical education shows that PBL can be used in just about any course. 

Project #12a SMARTboard Tools

Project #14 Project Based Learning Plans

Lesson Plans
Calendar
Rubric
Peer Evaluation

Project #9 Book Commentary Group 3

Blog Post #8: What Can We Learn About Teaching and Learning From Randy Pausch?

Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams was very inspirational and funny. Randy Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and gave one last lecture before he passed away. He began by discussing the elephant in the room (the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer) and stated he didn't want that to be the topic of the lecture. He listed out his childhood dreams and showed pictures of accomplishing them. He mentioned “head fake” which is when someone is taught something but they are really learning something else. This can help many students who don't believe they actually can do the work or learn the information. In a way, this is tricking the child and making them realize their true potential. He continues to mention the brick wall throughout his lecture and how we should continue to push through the brick wall. We shouldn’t let the brick wall stop us from doing what we want to do and we have to break through it to keep learning. There will be obstacles in our lives but we have to get through them to get to the goal and have fun doing it!

C4T#2

Part 1:

In Peoplegogy, Dr. Will interviews Connie Hamilton, Ed. S. about standard based learning. She explains that standard based learning focuses on the standard rather than the topic. Dr. Will asks her many questions so viewers can get an insight on what standard based learning is. Mrs. Hamilton explains standard based doesn’t limit creativity but rather encourages it.

Here is my comment:  

Hello Dr. Will,

        I am a student in EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama and have been assigned to read your blog. I really enjoyed watching Standard Based Learning with Connie Hamilton, Ed. S. and found it was filled with information I was not aware of. To your question regarding what the mastery of the standard really say about the students’ learning: I have heard students say many times that the letter grade does not represent what they really know but didn’t understand what they meant until now. I like how Mrs. Hamilton pointed out that standard base learning makes students aware of their weaknesses and strengths, giving them the opportunity to focus on what they don’t understand. I am excited to learn more from your blog! 

Part 2:

 

In The Dr. Will Show- The 411 ISTE Newbies with Tammy Neil and Kimberly Wright, they discuss helpful tips and what to expect when attending ISTE. ISTE is a non-profit organization in educational technology. Some of the tips Ms. Wright said included knowing what you want to attend, don’t bring many things with you because you may be walking out with many bags, and pick comfortable shoes. Dr. Will made a very interesting comment, “you never go to a conference for how to’s,” but rather to interact with other people and learn from each other.

Here is my comment:

I did not know what ISTE was and had to look it up. I am currently entering the courses for my major in education. How many times a year is ISTE held and can anyone go (as in does the principal choose who gets to attend)? The tips and information were very helpful and informative, especially the shoes suggestion!

Blog Post #7: How Do We Become Learners

The Using iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarten in Kindergarten video explains what kindergarteners do with iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL). Kindergarteners make trailers for books they have read and are very excited about making them. Alabama Virtual Library is free to everyone and is a way to teach basic research. Kindergarteners can do so much more than some college juniors and seniors, like creating and editing videos in iMovie.

In We All Become Learners, Dr. Strange, Elizabeth Davis, and Michelle Bennett discuss how everyone is a learner and teacher. Mrs. Bennett advocates deeper learning and introduces Padlet. She talks about how she teaches students to use various applications and is taught by students as well. Children are quick learners and can teach many of us new things!

From Mrs. Bennett’s Google + Site I watched the following 4 videos:

1. A Conversation with Two Second Graders: Doing Research and Making Presentations- In this video, two second graders explain how they completed their research and how they created their presentation. They used Alabama Virtual Library to research and enjoyed using the iPad. The second graders gave their presentation to 1st and 2nd graders. They were very enthusiastic when they shared their information and were eager to get hold of the mic.

2. Mrs. Shirley & Ms. Lauber's Students Collaborate- In this video, 2 second graders present their plant presentation on the iPad. They have animations and pictures incorporated into the presentation. They have a clear understanding of how to use an iPad, and their presentation is straightforward and easy to understand.

3. Sawyer’s Story- In this video, there are many pictures of Sawyer and his friends. The video gives insight to Sawyer’s friends and school environment. The video was created through iMovie and was put together really well. It gives the audience a sense of knowing the student just by watching the video.

4. CW PBL 1-  In this video, Christie Whitehead discusses different aspects of technology in the classroom. She talks about how her students sometimes teach her, and how she can provide them with a non-threatening environment. Christie elaborates on how project based learning connects all the subjects and the dedication the students have.  She describes the evolution of education and how technology has impacted it.

When I begin my student teaching in the next year and a half, I will ask my teacher for meaningful involvement in project based learning (PBL) activities. I will watch how the teacher runs PBL projects then actively participate in creating them. To keep up with current technology, I will watch videos, participate in meetings that teach new technology, and learn from my students. Some of my strengths are being a quick learner and the ability to apply my knowledge. My weaknesses are inventing projects that include Alabama standards and time management for multi-part assignments. I intend to reflect on the PBL activities, after helping create them, to make better ones in the future.

Project #13 Project Based Learning Plans

Project Based Learning Plans

Lesson Plans

Calendar

iMovie Rubric

Peer Evaluation

Project #8: Book Trailer

Blog Post #6: What I Learned From Anthony Capps

Project Based Learning Part 1 and Part 2 is filled with information and reflections. Anthony Capps summarized project based learning in a very simple way; he said it’s a means to getting the student to learn something. After watching Part 1, I learned that project based learning has to be relevant to the students lives and has to be driven by content (to fulfill the state standards). I have found students are more motivated about assignments if they are  connection to  their life. In Part 2, Anthony gave some benefits of project based learning and explained how he got feedback about the projects. One of the benefits of project based learning is that it creates opportunities for students to go beyond what you ask of them and they will take those opportunities. Students can be very creative, if they are given the chance. An amazing way Anthony received feedback about the project was by listening to students’ conversations about the project and recording them. Feedback is essential to better project based learning because the students are the ones that are completing the project so they have more of an idea how to make it better for their age level.

    In the iCurio video, Anthony mentions iCurio as an online tool that allows student to safely search the web. Safety online is a big issue with websites because anything can happen, but iCurio keeps the students safe as they are researching. iCurio has a research tool that allows students to search through criteria when researching such as searching only people. It also allows student to store and organize important information (i.e. creates folders), which gives them practice creating organizational schemes. Another great website for research is Discovery Education because it provides videos, pictures, and articles. The videos are especially useful because visual information is easier to retain. Anthony made an interesting comment about Discovery education videos. He said, “students listen and watch more than they read and write.” I found this to be true in the classroom last semester.

   

    The Anthony-Strange List of Tips for Teachers Part 1 is filled with much needed insight about teaching. A tip that I enjoyed and truly believe in is “be interested in learning”. We never stop learning and it is amazing the amount of information we accumulate. Another tip I try to apply is being flexible. Classrooms can be hectic and your day doesn’t always go as planned. When life throws us a curve ball we, as future teachers, have to manage and rearranged things. The last tip that really called to me was to reflect! Reflecting on the lessons, projects, and assignments can only make you a better teacher.

    In Don’t Teach Tech-Use it, Anthony says to use the technology and build on it. It’s particularly important to focus on one part of technology before moving on to the next. Students need to review what they learned the day before in order to reinforce the information. In Additional Thoughts About Lessons, Anthony guides viewers through the “four layers”, which include year, unit, week, and daily. Using lesson plans lets teachers plan out what needs to be reviewed and taught. In the lesson plan, teachers can input technology, review and plan for it.

Project #7: My Sentence Videos

My Sentence Is....

 

My Passion Is...

 

 Welcome Parents!

 

Welcome Students!

Blog Post #5: PLN’s What Are They?

Part 1:

PLNs (Personal Learning Networks) are a whole new concept to me and I have found them to be a rather neat creation. PLN’s are webpages you create and personalize to organize all of your frequently visited websites and RSS feeds. PLN’s give you easy access to the information you are looking for, such as research on a certain topic. Teachers can use them to communicate with both colleagues and students to improve their teaching quality. While I’m sure there are more out there, Netvibes and Symbaloo are two of the most used websites to create PLN’s. I recommend creating a PLN through Netvibes because it is very easy to use and has step by step directions.

I created my first PLN using Netvibes and it’s already coming in handy. I started by adding teachers on Pinterest, because a there are some incredible projects and ideas on there. Facebook is another good source for networking and idea generation, but it has a lot more spam and can get distracting. In short, I think my PLN is going to be a great way for me to network, generate new ideas for the classroom and stay informed with changes in the teaching community.

Project #3: Presentation

Blog Post #4: Asking Questions

When asking questions, teachers want students to think about the answer. However, this isn’t always the case. There will be students that aren’t listening or just don’t care. So how should teachers ask questions so all students are involved? In TheRight Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom by Ben Johnson, the author explains some cases of asking questions in the classroom and how the students may interpret the question. He then explains an effective approach by Mary Rowe to have students contribute to the question. The effective approach is asking a question, pausing for at least three seconds, then call on a student randomly for an answer. The approach is one of many effective ways to ask questions because it requires all students to think about the question rather than just the students that always answer. As teachers, we have to get students' minds involved in the thinking process.

In Three Ways toAsk Better Questions in the Classroom by Maryellen Weimer, the three ways described to ask better questions include preparing questions ahead of time, playing around with questions, and keeping good questions for future reference. These three ways can keep teachers from confusing students while trying to formulate questions during the lesson.  Creating questions ahead of time allows teachers to reword questions to clarify what is being asked. Thought provoking questions can be kept for future reference when re-teaching the lesson in subsequent years. These three ways will lead to better questions because they will help with the development of the not only the questions, but the lesson as well. The teacher could identify the areas that need clarity and the areas students have the most difficulty with. 

In Open Ended Questions, Andi Stix points out that open ended questions require higher level thinking from students. There are certain ways teachers have to phrase questions to get students to think beyond the basic yes and no. Some ways to make open ended questions is by phrasing it by asking the students to list, describe, or explain in detail. Higher level thinking leads to critical thinking and makes students go above and beyond regurgitating information to the real essence of the subject material. 

So what exactly do we need to know about asking questions in order to be an effective teacher? We need to prepare questions ahead of time then ask them during the lesson to give students the opportunity to think about the answer. This pause allows all of the students to think about the answer. Picking a student at random will get all of the students involved, rather than only getting participation from the students that always answer. Lastly, leave questions open ended so the students can think on a high level.

C4T #1 Post 1 & 2

Post #1: 

In Reflections on my First Year as an Elective Teacher, Mrs. Goerend writes about the relationships she has with her students. She describes how the bond with specific students grew and how emotional she was at the end of the year. She also realized the impact that she had on a student when they brought her a plant and a 2 page hand written letter.

Here's the comment I left:

Good evening Mrs. Goerend,

            I’m a EDM 310 student at the University of South Alabama and after reading your blog, I realized how important the connections that we, as teachers, create with students. These connections can be formed over anything and emotions are mixed in as well. Teachers spend so many hours with students  it is impossible for a bond not to form. I have heard many teachers say their students are like their children but they never explain why or how. I think teachers sometimes forget how much of an impact we have in students’ lives and it catches us by surprise. When I am a teacher I hope to form a connection with my students as well.

Post #2:

Always on the Clock by Becky Goerend describes how a teacher never stops being a teacher even when they are out of the classroom. Wherever teachers go, they will always be teachers. She describes the various times she ran into students and parents at the store or events. At the end of the blog Mrs. Goerend asked “do you choose to live in the community in which you teach?” My response to the question was no, I wouldn’t choose to live in the community I teach because I would not want parents crossing the professional to personal boundary. I believe in leaving work at work and leaving my personal life at home. If these two were to get mixed both work and my personal life will be effected.