Chapter 6-Launching the Project

This week we read about preparing the actual project experience. Technology can be a great way for students to reflect on their learning and look at their own learning strengths and weaknesses. A good way for this to happen is by having students create their own online blog. A blog works well for reflective learning, because students can look back on how they entered into the project, and how they have changed over time. The essential step to getting students excited about a project, is to intentionally transfer your passion about the topic, over to your students. The best way is to activate their prior knowledge on the issue. One of the ways to do this is with a K-W-L chart, or a "Know, Wonder, Learn" chart. Other areas of education refer to it as "Know, Want to Know, and Learned" chart, but the idea is the same. Basically, students begin the chart by describing what they already know about the topic. They write this in the first column. In the second column, they write questions they have about the topic, or things that they wonder about it. In the last column, after the lesson, they write down what things they learned. Before beginning a project, it's important to teach students the prerequisite skills they need to actively participate. Students need to know where they are in terms of their knowledge of a subject, as well as where they are expected to go with their learning. Students also need to know how they will be evaluated on their performance. The best way to do this is by using rubrics that cover the different dimensions of their project. When it comes to technology, we should take advantage of our technologically literate students. Teachers of course can demonstrate technology if they feel comfortable enough using it. But in this day and age, we have to remember that our students' lives are saturated with technology. We can tap into their expertise, and let them explore the technology, and even help each-other navigate through it. A great way to get students interested in the project, is by building up to it. Get students excited about the project by asking them questions, and having them ask questions of their own. I really like the idea of students using a blog to track their learning. I would apply this in our project by having students use it like a journal about their project experience. In the blog, students would talk about what they were doing, how they liked it, what they were learning, and how they might change it. In their blog they would also appeal to our sister class in Great Britain to find out what they were doing and how it related to their project overseas.