Logan-RR Chapter 11

Using PBL in your classroom instead of the common way to teach in the classroom can have many advantages. Things that occur when using PBL is that you see more enthusiasm in your students, the students feel more connected with the class because each student is sharing their ideas trying to find new ways to improve their project. Also students can guide their own path of learning, decide what they already know and what they want to find out. At the end of a project you will see students feeling accomplished and excited to share their work with others.

Ways to bring your project home would be to do a reflective piece with your class. This can be done both whole group, so that everyone has a chance to hear what everybody thought of their work, and also be individually as an informal assessment to track what the students have learned. Some other ways to bring it home is to share the new found information with other classes in the school, share it on the web, or enter your class project in a contest.

This chapter relates to my project based assignment because at the end I want my students to showcase what they have learned and be excited about their accomplishments and hard work. The ideas given in this chapter will help me demonstrate that within my project.

Spangler: Chapter 11 RR

Using the project-based learning approach has many advantages over a traditional lecture. It gives students more responsibility and freedom for them to guide their own learning. Students are having fun learning about something they enjoy. Students also learn how to work collaboratively, track their own learning processes, and take projects to the next level. After a project is completed, it should leave a lasting impression with artifacts, souvenirs, and memories.

Different ways to “bring your project home” includes reflecting on how to make your next project even better. You can get together with your colleagues and talk about what worked, and what could be improved. It is also important to share your project ideas with an online database like the New Technology network for other teachers to use your ideas. It is also a good place for you to get ideas for your next project. You could also enter your project in a contest to gain more exposure for your project and your students.

This chapter relates to our project because it talks about how to wrap up a project and how to learn from it. It is important that once we are finished with our project to reflect on what we could’ve done better, and what could’ve worked better for our students.

Grady: Ch 11 RR

As a result of using the project based learning approach, the students were able to engage in the the best learning activities. My students were able to get the most out of this project because of all it had to offer. As a teacher, I was able to learn to collaborate with teachers through blogging and using a wiki. My class was able to think beyond the set class time and i encouraged them to continue interaction with project membersm, and therefore to be thinking about and cnstructing their own reality at any time of the day. Good projects don't lead to a dead end. They open new doors and create connections that you can build into future project designs. To bring your project home, capitalize on your investment, critique your work, share your insights, become a resoouce for your colleagues, enter a contest, and enjoy the journey. This all relates to our project because it doesn't just stop when the project is done and over with. It is important, as a taacher, to reflect on the project when you are done.

Grady: Ch 10 RR

Taking time to reflect helps students feel good about their accomplishments, but more importantly, reflection can be the thing that makes learning really stick. When students create their own meaning, it's important that they look at it from all sides while meaning is taking shape, and then view it from a distance, too, as they get ready to step beyond the experience to the next learning challenge. As students become more accomplished project-doers, you will put more and more decisions for subsequent projects in their hands. Be sure to ask your learners where they want to g. Schools build tradition and identity by making an impact or doing something special. Think about how your class can establish a tradition of exemplart project work. When families, the community, and students coming up through the grades know what you are up to, you have a foundation for tradition. As community members begin to notice and value students' accomplishments, they will give you enthusiastic support. Celebrate finishing a project by showing students works, put on an event, create a blog, or hold a party. Anyway you do it, celebrate learning, and build your school's identity as a place where kids get to elarn through projects. As we finish up our semester with our students, we will be celebrating after our field day. I want the students to feel accomplished and special in knowing they did soemthing worth their time and to show how proud I am of how hard they worked throughout the project.

Logan-Chapter 10 RR

There will be a lot going on in and out of the classroom. There will be times when you rapidly move from one topic to another so it is important to set aside time to reflect. It is important to set aside time for reflection because one it helps students to feel good about their accomplishments, but also because it gives the students another chance to be reminded of the material. “Reflection can be the thing that makes learning really stick.” It helps the students reveal things that they may not otherwise think about, which helps them step beyond their experiences and grow.  This will also help the students to elaborate on their project. It gets them to think about what next? What else do I want to learn? Or what’s another direction this project can go? This helps them to have a personal connection with their project, which in return can benefit them in the long run because of the real world application.

One way schools build tradition and identity is by showcasing their talents, for example the school who has the best sporting team, or the school that always wins science fairs.  These schools share a sense of tradition and an expectation of excellence. It’s only right that we channel these traditions into the classroom. Building an identity or tradition as a teacher helps you to become known in your school and community. Having a PBL class year after year students will start to take interest after years of doing it. Younger brothers and sisters will be excited to join your class knowing that they’re going to do the fun PBL just like their older friends or siblings.

It’s important to showcase or celebrate your students work, for one it gives the students a sense of accomplishment and pride. It also makes them feel good to know that the teacher is going to take time out to celebrate our work. “Show students work, put on an event, creates a blog, or has a party…build your school’s identity as a place where kids get to learn through projects.

Concepts in this chapter relate to my topic because these are all useful tips that we need to think about while in front of the classroom and carrying the PBL curriculum out. Students will need to reflect and elaborate to achieve higher order thinking and be prepared to take a step further with their project. As the teacher it will be nice to build the traditions and identity of your school, it’ll help to get attention or help from other teachers as well as the community.

Spangler: Chapter 10 RR

Reflection is a very important part of the learning process. When students take some time to reflect on what they have accomplished, what they have learned, and what they have enjoyed learning about, it is only beneficial. Ask the students how the project related to them personally. By reflecting on what they have done from many different angles, students really get the full learning experience.

It is essential for students to reflect and elaborate because they might take it to a level you never imagined. The example from this chapter talks about students who did a project on technology, but weren’t quite satisfied with the available technology at their school. The students decided to take it one step further and write a grant proposal for updating their school’s technology. It is important for students to elaborate and make the project their own.

Some schools are known for sports teams or science competitions. But it is important to create a tradition with your project. This way younger students know that when they get to your class, they will be a part of it. Knowing ahead of time also gives the benefit of getting a head start on research each year and learning a little bit about it to establish some prior knowledge for when they are old enough to start the project.

Celebrating a project can be done by displaying it around the community and the school throughout the year, or creating a blog. It is important to establish your school’s identity of learning through projects and so they should be celebrated. Another idea is to get together at the end of the year and present all the projects that the students have done throughout the year.

This chapter relates to our project because we are working towards a summative part of the project, which for us is a field day where the students will be using what they have learned from hydration, exercise, and nutrition.

Monday's Class

Hey guys..sorry I couldn't make it back in time to Kalamazoo last night for class. My mom had emergency surgery over the weekend so the past few days have been crazy. Lets start thinking about days where we might be free because I'm sure we're going to have to work on our website outside of class as well. I'm back in Kalamazoo now so I'll see you all next week for class.

TEAM WEBSITE!

Team Website

What we need:

Opening Page

                Standards and description

                Link to wmu website using logo

                Final Concept Map with description

Navigational Bar (In order)

2 web pages for each person (1 is a new idea)

Name & Email on each page

Each lesson plan linked in an appropriate place

Each digital story linked in appropriate place with a description

Group virtual pen pals

Google Map assignments

Podcast with description

Link to blog

3 additional websites with description for each person (pertain to topic)

Team: Opening page, navigational bar, concept map, name & email, virtual penpals, google maps, podcast, link to blog

Annaliese: 2 pages, 2 lesson plans, digital story, 3 new websites, link standards, image on each page

Hope: 2 pages, 2 lesson plans, digital story, 3 new websites, link standards, image on each page

Kristen: 2 pages, 2 lesson plans, digital story, 3 new websites, link standards, image on each page