Grady: Ch 7 RR

There are three types of classroom level discussion. The first type is teacher to teacher. Project planning and working together is important and teacher conversations will touch on everything from the procedural to formative assessment. If you are not able to communicate face to face or are at different locations, start a blog, a wiki or other collaborative tools to keep your conversations going. The second type of classroom discussion is student to student. Students should be talking about their learning experiences as they unfold. Remind them that good communication skills are part of effective teamwork and will help keep their team organized and on track. The last type of classroom discussion is teacher to student. As a teacher, you can either work with students individually, in groups, or as a whole group; depending on what you are trying to teach and how you want to teach. During a project, a teacher should ask questions. Procedural: Are we staying on schedule? Do we have the right materials available? When's the best time to schedule a field trip, expert visitor, or other activity? Teamwork:How are team members getting along? Is one student carrying too much of the load for the whole team? Are students able to manage conflict themselves, or do they need my help? Understanding: Have you thought about...? Have you considered this research? Self-assessment: Ask questions that encourage self-assessment and reflection. Project journals or blogs offer space for students to describe the challenges or frustrations. It is important to make sure the technology you chose for your students to work with is helping benefit their project. Ask questions such as: Is technology helping students reach learning goals, or is it leading them on side trips? Is technology helping students stay organized? Etc. Troubleshooting is a 21st-century skill that distinguishes effective project managers. Help students understand that real world projects come with real-world challenges. Help them learn from set-backs and fine-tune their strategies for getting a project back on track. These concepts relate to our project because it is important as a teacher to keep the project moving and to make sure your students are staying on track and doing their work. It is important to know how to keep the project moving while keeping the students interested.