Thursday, March 26, 2015

C4K #2

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-oregontrail.html    
 My first comment was on a post that a fourth grade student did about life on the Oregon Trail. He talked about how his family would survive. He said his brother would get lost, his baby brother would get sick, his mom would make food, and he and his dad would find clean water. He also described how they would build new houses and banks to start a better life. I think his post was very good at describing what he thought would happen to his family on the Oregon Trail. However, I wish he would have explained the Oregon Trail briefly. I left a question about how he would find food for his mom to make, but I'm still waiting for a response. If you would like to see his original post or maybe see some more of his work, here is Dante J's Blog.
http://smc.cospicuagirls.skola.edu.mt/?page_id=130
My second comment was on a post a student did about job shadowing. He said that it was going alright, but that he was having trouble with getting in contact with places to job shadow. He also gave his opinion on job shadowing, which was that he thought it was a waste of time. He just didn't see the purpose of it. However, he decided he was going to keep trying so that he didn't fail English. I commented about my experience with observing classrooms so he could see that it's not a waste of time. I explained that valuable experience can come from it, and that it can even help you decide a future career. I hope he gets some great opportunities to job shadow! If you would like to read his blog, here is Jesus's Blog.
http://tarteblog.com/the-one-kiera-cass/
My final comment was on a post by a seventh grade student about a book called The One by Kiera Cass. She explained that this was one book in a series about a girl named America Singer who was living in a castle and trying to decide whether to be with a prince or a guard. She described it as a mix between The Bachelor and The Hunger Games. There's action, mystery, and romance! I really liked her post because it seemed like she was really excited to talk about the book. Her description was great and she really made me want to read it. I made sure to share with her that reading is one of my favorite hobbies. I also shared a series that I've read that might interest her. If you want to read her post, here is Peyton H.'s Blog.

Blog Post #10

What Can We Learn From Mrs. Cassidy?


http://mindsharelearning.ca/2013/06/05/mindshare-musings-the-connectors-leaders-and-people-on-the-move-3/      In the videos I've listed above, I learned the ways Mrs. Cassidy uses technology in her first grade classroom.  She first started incorporating technology into the classroom when she received 5 computers for her classroom. She started her learning by creating a webpage for her classroom that her students could go to in order to see announcements and find links she shared for research or educational games. She then expanded to blogging which she uses to show her students progress in all areas especially writing. Now, her students use wikis, video, Skype, and Nintendo DS on top of the webpage and blog. She also has a Twitter that she uses to build her Personal Learning Network and  to collaborate with other professionals. 
     Mrs. Cassidy is a great example for those who aren't sure about using technology in the classroom. She makes the case for technology by expressing that the children are really engaged and that teachers should be changing along with how our society is changing. Now that technology is so prevalent in our everyday lives, it is important to use it to our advantage as teachers. The students have fun with it and get to collaborate with other students and professionals from all over the world, and the parents can get online and see their child's progress throughout the year. For those who don't know where to start with technology, she suggests starting with what you are interested in. For example, I love writing, so a great place for me to start would be with blogging which I have already done. Information from all over is readily available at our fingertips if we would just give it a chance.
http://bookboon.com/blog/2013/06/10-elements-every-successful-business-blog-needs/
     I plan on becoming a secondary language arts teacher, so I think that blogging would benefit my students. They could improve their grammar, reading, and writing each day just by creating blog posts to fit the standards I've given them. Then, they could peer edit through commenting on their classmates' blogs. I know I used to have to journal entries at the beginning of my language arts classes, so blogging could easily take the place of that at the beginning of each class. Also, Skype would be effective in my classroom as a way to talk to professionals in the literature realm and maybe even some authors. I think that would really get my students engaged in what they are learning. However, there could also be some problems with changing to technology in the classroom. The school I'm at may not have the funds for computers or the resources necessary. There may not be support from the administration. Unfortunately, it would also be hard to monitor what my high school students were really doing on the computers. I believe I could overcome these impediments if I can get the support and funds from others who believe that the dynamic of education should be changing to one that revolves around technology. In regards to trusting my students to do as they are supposed to, I guess it's just something I would have to figure out over time as it happens.
     

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Project #13 Project Based Learning Plan #1

Romeo and Juliet: A Modern Twist

By: Team Grammar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliet_(1968_film)


Students will read the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. In order to check their understanding of the plot and main themes of the play, they will act out a scene from the play. However, they must put their own modern twist on the scene and try to interpret it in a way that people could understand today. They will be separated into groups and video themselves acting out the scenes using IMovie. On an individual basis, each student will create a script for their group which they will be graded on. Each group will then pick the script they think is best to use. This project is meant to engage students and get them to collaborate, communicate, and think critically. Below you can find links to the project planner, individual and group rubrics, and project calendar.




PBL Project Planner (By: Rebekah Linton)
PBL Individual Rubric (By: Randy Rayford)
PBL Group Rubric (By: Boston Morgan)
PBL Project Calendar (By: Alexander Wells)

Project #9 Video Book Commentary

Video Book Commentary

By: Team Grammar




Thursday, March 19, 2015

Blog Post # 9

What Can Teachers and Students Teach Us About Project Based Learning?

In order to answer this question, I was required to watch a few videos and read some articles based around project based learning (PBL). I even did some research on my own to answer this question. I found that PBL is something more teachers should implement in order for students to get the most out of their learning experience. It allows them to be creative and take their learning into their own hands. This creates a classroom environment full of engaged students. I definitely will take the research I have done for this blog post and apply it to my teaching.
http://www.motivateplay.com/2013/04/647/

To begin with, I will talk about the video What motivates students?. This video was helpful in giving some insight into what motivates students and the type of rewards they enjoy. It's important for a teacher to know this in order to get students engaged in their learning and to motivate them to do their best. One student said that he found praise from the teacher to be motivating. A few students were motivated by the fact that they had to do well in school in order to achieve their dreams and goals. I think that PBL could make a difference in how these students learn by letting them do something fun and creative. This could make it easier for them to do well in school and maybe even motivate them to find a new chance to learn in every experience. 
http://www.buncombe.k12.nc.us/Page/44643

For those who don't know much about PBL, Project Based Learning for Teachers is a great overview of what it is. I learned that PBL allows students to take control of their own learning by doing research to answer a driving question. The driving question has to involve critical thinking skills and has to allow students to create a product to share with others. According to this video, students learn collaboration skills, communication skills, critical thinking skills, and career and life skills from project based learning. All of these skills are essential to be successful after they graduate and enter the "real world". Basically, PBL is preparing students with the skills they need to function as a part of society.

Of course it's a good idea to look at what project based learning is not in order to understand what it is. I did my own research and came across What Project Based Learning Isn't. I learned from this video that a lot of teachers think they are implementing PBL, but they are really implementing project oriented learning. Project oriented learning is not the same as project based learning. Project oriented learning involves the teacher going through the semester lecturing, giving assignments, or even showing movies on the material they are covering. Then, they assign a project for the students to do at the end of the semester that requires them to use what they learned over the semester. This is different because the students weren't really taking control of their own learning throughout the semester. They were taught the material and then did a project based on what they were taught instead of doing their own research. I think this is very important for teachers to recognize so that they can make sure they are actually implementing PBL.

I know I was a little confused on what exactly goes on in project based learning until I read the article Seven Essentials for Project-Based Learning. This article helped me recognize the essentials of a good PBL plan.
These are the seven essentials every teacher should abide by:
  • A Need to Know- This is like a hook. This is what you should use to get the students interested.
  • A Driving Question- This needs to be a complex question that involves critical thinking and should guide the project. Students should be able to answer this question with their project.
  • Student Voice and Choice- This means that students should be able to have choices in their project in order to make it meaningful for them.
  • 21st Century Skills- This project should build on skills such as collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.
  • Inquiry and Innovation- Students should be able to start creating their own questions and innovative answers to these new questions.
  • Feedback and Revision- Students should use rubrics and peer feedback to revise their work. It's important for them to realize that something great doesn't just happen the first time.
  • A Publicly Presented Product- Students should present their work to an audience in order to care
  • more about the quality of their project.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2014/04/squeeze-watery-ketchup-goodbye-with-teens-new-bottle-cap-invention/ 
Finally, I read an article about an invention created by two high school students through PBL. Two Students Solve the Problem of Watery Ketchup by Designing a New Cap was a project created through the Project Lead the Way Program. The students had to start with something that was relevant to them. They typically use the phrase "it really bugs me when" to start off this project. So, high school seniors Tyler Richards and Jonathan Thompson decided to do a project based on a mutual love of ketchup. They were bothered by the watery ketchup that first comes out of the ketchup bottle. So they looked for patents that could solve the problem, but couldn't find any that helped. That forced them to come up with their own innovative design to solve the problem. After sketching out the design, they brought it to life using a 3-D printer. They found this project to be enjoyable because it was something that was meaningful to them which is an essential to a PBL plan. I think teachers can truly see the effects PBL has on students through this example.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Blog Post #8

What Can We Learn About Teaching and Learning from Randy Pausch?

For this blog post, I was required to watch Randy Pausch Last Lecture and answer the question above. This video was quite long, but I really enjoyed it and learned a lot from it. Pausch had a lot of things to say that are applicable to people of all ages. I feel that everyone could learn from what Pausch has to say.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Pausch

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.”

This quote was something Pausch said in his lecture that really stuck out to me. There are a lot of brick walls that keep people from accomplishing what they really want to do, and often times they let those walls become an excuse. It's important for us to keep pushing past those brick walls in order to achieve our dreams. We just have to keep trying until we make it past those brick walls and that means that we constantly have to learn and grow. We have to learn from our mistakes and try to do things differently each time we fail. This is an important concept for educators to teach their students in order for their students to achieve their goals and dreams. If students learn from a young age that anything is possible even when it seems impossible, they will be more likely to keep pushing past those brick walls. Of course, people also have to want it badly enough to keep going. The only way people will achieve their goals is if they work hard. That's why it's also important to instill a good work ethic in students and teach them that they can only achieve their goals if they want it badly enough. 
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-lecture-randy-pausch/1100317728?ean=9780340977002

"Wait long enough and people will surprise and impress."

The second thing Pausch said that made an impact on me as a future educator was this quote. We live in a very fast paced culture where we want everything now. We don't want to wait for people to do what we want them to do. I feel like we are quick to get angry or frustrated when people aren't meeting are expectations. What Pausch said really made me think. We need  to slow down a bit and allow people the time to surprise and impress us. Educators especially should keep this in mind when working with students. Sometimes students just need a little more time on something in order to unlock their full potential.  I know I will take a step back when I'm frustrated with my students, and wait for them to meet or even exceed my expectations. Sometimes people just need a little more time than we are willing to give.



 To summarize the main points of his entire lecture, I just want to include the last few things he said  at the end of the video that could have an impact on you.

"Brick walls let us show our dedication."
"Don't bail; the best gold is at the bottom of barrels of crap."
"Get a feedback loop; and listen to it!"
"Show gratitude."
"Don't complain; just work harder."