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

          A project where students take it personal; it means something to them while also fulfilling an educational purpose. The educators with the Buck institute for education provide professional development to help schools set up a sustained program of in depth PB throughout a district, network, or state. Ms. Mcintyre  has done this in  seven steps:

1. A need to know
2.A driving question
3.Student voice and choice
4. 21st century skills
5. Inquiry and innovation
6. Feedback
7. A publicly presented product

         There are times when students really want to know in depth what their assigned projects is all about. They are interested  in knowing really, what was on Rosa Parks mind at that very moment when she won't give up her seat on the bus. Among so many others , this is a real world event, that triggered the thoughts of so many students. It takes more than a worksheet to cover some of out world events. Sometimes just one question asked by the teacher will cause the class to began to have an open discussion, because the question is a driven question. Some projects are very meaningful to students. Sometimes the students should have a choice so that they will have a voice in the matter ,this is what Ms. McIntyre believes. 21st century skills can only trigger 21 century learning. Ms. McIntyre's class worked in teams and begin planning. The students used rubrics that the teacher helped them develop. They also used time and task organizers, practiced oral presentations skills and learned to produce videos and pod casts. Students do research to find answers to their questions in books, articles, websites, and if possible calling an expert on the subject. students critique on one an other's work. this is a great part of learning. Revising during a project does make learning more meaningful. This is the only way to improve a students project. Students don't mind showing off their work. A well out together project will mean the world to them and their teacher.

Project Based Learning for teachers by Tony Vincent a good overview of standards and PBL

          

        Tony Vincent really asked two very important questions. Teacher do you want to make you classroom more centered and learning meaningful? just to name a few facts coming from his video. Teachers must use technology,  Power points, School tube, Movie Maker, Google Docs, and PB works. Teachers must reach students, work over time, answer driven questions, investigate, promote sharing, common core standards these techniques can reach students must also, take charge of their learning and never forget to refine their classwork.

         Even in PE ,project based learning can take place, through problem solving challenge, working as a team or as individuals. High school students have been to create a fitness plan that they can use not only at school, but in their everyday lives. The NASPE has six standards. These include:

1. " Demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities."

2. " Demonstrates understanding of movement concepts"

3. " Participates regularly in physical activity"

4. " Achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness"

5." Exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respect self and others"

6. " values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and social interaction"

      These standards exhibit PBL because, theses are standards that can help the students health for the rest of their lives.

           Two Students solve the case of the watery ketchup by designing a new cup. All students love ketcup. When the bottle is turned over the water always comes first. This is not good for the hot dogs or fries. The students designed a device that looked like a mushroom or " the shroom." Basically what the students got out of this project was just having fun. There are two important thing's I've learned about Project Based Learning. Teachers must be open minded and willing to be patient using many sources to get the project done. Students will always feel when they have a choice in planning their project, and how having enough time to get the project done correctly. when doing this the teachers and students have space to grow

Project 12 Part A

Project 14

Project 14 Rubric
Project 14 Calendar
Project 14 Project Planner

Project 9

Blog Post 8

      What can we learn about teaching and learning?
       By: Randy Pausch
       " Really Achieving Childhood Dreams"

       In Randy Pausch final lecture he said, I am not in denial about my condition, so he humored the audience by doing push ups before he really got started with his lecture. He let the audience know that he was really in good shape. He spoke about really achieving your childhood dreams. His list of childhood dreams include: being in zero gravity, playing in the NFL, winning and collecting stuff animals, being captain Kirk, author world book Encyclopedia and a Walt Disney imagineer. I would like to write about three of his childhood dreams.

       He never got to play in the NFL, but he learned from his coach that having a good foundation was more important than just throwing a football. Randy was really pushed and screamed at during practice. The assistant coach, Bradley, told him if your not doing well and no one corrects you its time to get concerned; that means they have given up o you. The coach pushed him to achieve. Not going to the NFL was not the most important thing, but getting the NFL experience was more important. This was what  brought out his good character and hard working ability. 

       One of his childhood dreams involved meeting his childhood idol Captain Kirk. Captain Kirk didn't always make the right decisions, but he had great leadership abilities. One of those abilities was the ability to never give up; because of this Kirk was able to lead his crew to many victories.

       Randy also talked about how he always wanted to be a Walt Disney imagineer. He filled out an application to work with the imagineer program, but he was denied. He made a statement about going pass the brick walls, he said they were there just to see how bad we really wanted what we wanted. He also enabled childhood dreams for others. He started a class building virtual worlds. He had 50 students, 5 projects a semester, they also used weak computers, but it happened. His first project for his class really impress him, he wanted to see, if they could do better. He talk to another professor to see what to do. Randy basically let him know don't set a boundary, push for more. To me this is(PBL) Project Based Learning. There was a message that Dr. Strange left for us on our blog that reminds me of this, he said you did great, but you can do better.

       Randy had a project where kids were having fun learning something hard. He also said the best way to teach someone is to allow them to think they are learning something else. He also believed in learning from students. His lessons learned list are things I won't forget, always help others, loyalty is a two way street, vouch foe people you believe in, tell the truth, be earnest, apologize when you screw up, focus on others not always yourself, show gratitude, don't complain, wok hard, be prepared, and find the best n everyone. At the end of the lecture he said it was basically how to lead your life , and the talk was for his kids. 

C4ta#2-Summary/Comment - C4tp-Post #4 - Summary/Comment, Jeff Delp

Jeff with the kids of Good Neighbor Orphanage  NGTD- Not Getting things Done


It seems as if honesty and struggling sometimes go together. Your correct, all good things like innovation, engaged learning, excellent behavior, and growth are not happening in every ones classroom, or school. In some of our schools it just the opposite, especially kids that end up with kids being placed in an orphanage.You have to be a special person, to have a desire to work with orphans, because sometimes they have some emotional problems because of their situation. I don't think being a principal is an easy job. You spoke about not being able to call the kids names when you greet then every morning, with some of these kids, just speaking with a smile means the world to them. I'm sure your staff must be pretty special also, if they were not dedicated, I don't believe they would still be there. Funding is a problem in most schools, public and private, so don't think it's strange that you are facing this problem. Your doing the right thing, stay focused on the students. It is a distinct pleasure to work with teachers and students at an orphanage school. How else would you really know, what type of strength you really have. To sum you up, an excellent, dedicated principal, with the same type of staff. Keep up the good work.

Comment: You don't always have to know how to do it to get it done. The bright side is, you tackled it, and only good can come from it. Don't quit Jeff.


C4tp post # 4

The Marginalization of Children - Summary


I feel like you, that every student deserves a quality education. We can discuss funding all day, in fact, it has been the topic brought before our government officials. They came to the same conclusion, maybe fund this school now, and get to the others later.That later just got later, and later, and later.until it never got to the other schools. No child left behind does not only mean academics but, also attendance, lets make sure the students get on roll to help with funding. Money doesn't always guarantee positive changes or success in education. As for the students with learning disabilities, don't worry parents , your child will be guaranteed n IEP,breakfast and lunch. As for their academic success,there is a lack in resources. All kids deserve a quality education, eve if it takes a quality charter school, but are they prepared and willing to meet the needs of all students.

Comment

Yes, all kids deserve a quality education.I really don't like putting students in a category, because of there economic status.Things are still a little better now than they use to be.

Summary Essay

       Throughout life, people are always influenced in some way by others. This is what helps us grow in many areas. I can say that. i have been awakened in some areas concerning technology, and how learning has changed since i graduated from high school. I still believe that technology is the going thing. It is my way out the world at my fingertips \, and the best way to teach students. Project based learning(PBL) has opened up a world of understanding. It pushes you to learn and to show what you have learned, through, community based lessons, and a world of technology. Who would have thought that kindergartners would have been doing imovie book trailers on their own, and wanting to make sure that their projects are correct before it is presented. We are coming up in a day and time where we as adults must listen to students, when it comes to technology. The teacher teach students ans the students teach teachers. It seems to me that the motto for Gulf Shores Elementary School could be, we are all learners. The student seem to be determined that nothing will stop them from enjoying learning. My weakness is technology, but i am determined like these students to learn. I am some what afraid of technology because i don't fully know ow to use it. After taking EDM310 the fear is leaving. I can't throw away what I have learned, I must add to it, by using technology as often as i can. I realize after receiving my degree and being placed in a school to teach 2nd grade, if I get struck in a spot using technology, i will have a classroom full of eager, helpful students and a supportive staff of teachers.

       Students in Tammy Shirley 1st grade classroom where taught to be organized. Even after the organizers where not complete, the students still went into their desk and began to do their research on their own . Some of the students were allowed to get their hands dirty, by doing their first imovie as a class. The students planted seeds and waited to see what was going to come up. What kind of fruit, vegetable or flower would bloom. The students even sung a beautiful song entitled " Earth we're in it together forever". The song brought out ways to help save the earth by saving water, land, and air. My strengths are I have always loved to work with children. I've driven a special needs school bus 20 yrs, and have been a substitute teacher off an on 18 of those years. I have a drive in me to have my own classroom surrounded with PBL equipment.I'm looking forward to graduating in 2017, but i am especially anxious to become a helpful and compassionate, PBL equipped teacher.
       

How do we become Learners?            

        we become learners first by admitting to others and ourselves that we just don't know everything there is to know about different situations in our lives, This includes technology. We must be willing to listen, Follow instruction, and obey. By doing these things it will allow us to be like sponges, soft and ever so squishy willing to soak things in

Blog Post 7

       How do we become learners? Mrs. Michele Bennett and Elizabeth Davis, Librarians/ media specialists.

      Using imovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarden July 7, 2014(8:05)

       Dr. Strange asked what's happening for kindergartners? Mrs. Bennett replied that the students are making imovie book trailers, just like college students. The kindergartners will make imovie book trailer of their own. The students will write their own scrip, snap pictures in essence of the story. The kindergartners will work for at least one hour on this project making sure it's correct and they still don't want to stop working on it. The students will also edit their writing. There was also edit their writing. There was also one time where one of the teachers ad to refresh their memory when it was time to do the imovie trailer, but that's technology.

       Elizabeth Davis spoke about Alabama Virtual Library.She said you can get it from any library and it was free. IT teaches basic research, encyclopedia articles. The student can type in words as simple as dog and it will pull up the animals image and the research about the animal. Dr.Strange points out at times college juniors will make mistakes doing their assignments, and they really don't want to correct their mistake. These Kindergartners want their imovie book trailers to be edited.

       In the video we all become learners, Mrs. Bennett points out that teachers teach the students and the students teach the teachers. One of the free apps is called padlets,a popular website that you can type in questions and get answers and also take pictures. One of the Kindergarten students actually taught Mrs.Bennett how to take her picture using padlet.

       Mrs. Candice Munoz's class talked about what they hope they will grow from their mystery garden! The students made their first movie as a class. I admired how brave they were and they were and they were able to tell just what they wanted their seeds to be. Some chose watermelon seeds, carrot seeds,vegetable seeds, and pumpkin seeds were chosen because the little girl stated that she Love, LOved, LoVes the pumpkin pie. At the end of the class let us know they couldn't wait to see hat would grow from their mystery garden.

       In the video " Earth, we are in it together" the teacher shared how students can make a difference saving the earth, and making our community a better place. The students have been taught at school how to keep their surroundings clean,switch off the lights when they are hot in use, taking care of school property, saving food, and how to recycle. The students sang a song "Earth we're in it together forever and ever. They sang about reaching out to help save the earth, by saving water, and, and air. They have a vision that they are proud of.

       Dr. John Strange interviews two GSES students in Mrs. Lauber's class about crating their loggerhead sea turtle presentations( second grade). Dr.strange asked, how did they go about doing this presentation. The research was done by using safari, google, and the AVL library. They explained they used keynote and their ipads to do their presentation. They explained how they went to pictures to choose their photos and pick their presentations. The girls told Dr. Strange they love learning and using their ipads. They were able to show their presentations to first graders and teachers and they were very excited about their projects. The girls made sure to mention, they received a lollipop as a reward

Project 13 Classifying leaves for a first grade class

Rubric
Project Planner
Calendar

Blog post 6

       In the first interview with Dr.Strange and Anthony Capps, we see where Mr. Capps is a PBL practitioner,he is also a third grade teacher at Baldwin Country Elementary School. He was asked how do you approach Project Based Learning. He stressed that the students had projects at the end of their lessons to show that they learned the lesson that was given to them. Capps said that his best was the community based lessons. The students were driven by content. A good project was rewarded and was related to the real world. Lessons. The students were driven by content and their projects, which related to the real world, if good was rewarded. Lessons of this content helped students to know and complete what the state required of them. The third grade students wrote letters to congressman Joe Bonner. one of their concerns were woman who served in combat. The students were excited to create the and discover knowledge at the end of their lesson. Dr. Strange pointed out that the teachers were learners also.

       In the second Interview Capp pointed out that everything will not go well all the time. His class studied culture and they read an article about Haiti. The next article was on Afghanistan, and they pretended that they were kids who lived in Afghanistan. The students used pictures to create, they also focus on food, fashion, warfare and religion. One parent did not his child exposed to this project, because he served in Afghanistan, Capps had to respect his wishes. This is one of the things you may run into when a certain lesson has been presented to the class. This child worked on a science project which was also interesting. There were fifty parents who were amazed at what their kids had done. It was pointed out that it takes a it of planning and footwork, to achieve these type of projects. The most important thing is that the students learn. The administrators, principals, and superintendents gave high ratings to this approach.I learned in one of the interviews about icurio. It is a tool that safely searches the web site to log in for educational use. Two other valuable content is that students learn how to organize online. They create folders for tropics, create and collect materials video, and audio to finish projects. icurio, will serve grade levels, Through high school. If the child has a learning disability the web site will read to them to they can retain the information. It not only serves as being very resourceful for the students, but it is an excellent web for the teachers.

       I also learned about another useful tool called Discovery Education. It is basically visual and excellent for teachers.It brings experts into the classroom, and the text to life. Dr. Strange brought out, that research states that people grasp more when they can see it. It is very important to keep in mind that the text is used along with discovery education. Capps and Strange also talked about five things a teacher should think about.

1) Learning yourself, you the teacher, it's not easy its hard but have fun doing it. Even outside of your eight hour day you don't get paid but you learn as a teacher. It's an on going process

2) Dr. Strange pointed out the blog post. He stated be flexible and creature.

3)If it doesn't look like what u want make it work. Be flexible even if the lights go out.

4) get the students engaged don't allow any kid to be left behind.

5) Remember teaching is hard work, flexible and creative

       Dr. Strange and Capps also talked about how you don't teach technology you have to use it. Technology is still controversial, but it comes natural to kids. It may be safe to say a class without technology in the 21st century could be in enjoyable. Capps should that u should not teach it but scuffle it. It takes a third grader less time to learn to do an imovie than less adults, he points out that will use one technology at a time. Capps said it's clean not messy, you don't have to clean up after it. And last but not least i learned out to make a lesson successful. a lesson is 4 layers thick that fits into a year. A unit of projects, stretch it out and master the out come. Than you go into your weeks 6 or 7 of them and you reach your goal. next you have your daily lessons; how you deliver them to your students. This will make one lesson successful.

Book Trailer

To Parents and Students

1) To Parents

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2) to Students

C4Ta#2-post#1

It actually seems like poverty stricken areas and people will be with us always. We may not be able to solve all the educational issues in these areas, such as Haiti, but we, but the places we can we shall do so. I can tell you have a big heart and plenty of compassion. A Good Neighbor Orphanage sounds like one of the best ideas in the world. What a beautiful outreach, this is something that Haiti really needs.
Comment


Summary

Jeff Delp, Molehills out of Mountains

I believe that what your saying is true, although I have never been there. It has already been said that seeing is believing. To be an educator compassion comes with the territory. even along math, science, and language arts. There are students that will end up being o.k., and there are some that will not be o.k., we have to come to grips with those facts. We have to to make sure we have done our best to teach and steer them in the right direction to be o.k. Just know that our students have a mind, and they will never forget our acts of kindness, in the long run they will be forever greatful. This is when the mountains  into turn into molehills.














   

Presentation project #3

My passion and my sentence

Blog post #5

       One way that teachers get help and explore each others work is by developing a personal learning network. It is those people,places,organizations and activities which enable you to learn. Since I have learned to use twitter, and have my own blog I am now learning how to build my own PLN. It's great being able to communicate with other professionals around the world like  Michael Fawcett; who discusses his PLN by saying he stayed connected, he communicated, and asked questions. Fawcett not only listened but he made suggestions himself. he added new sites and exchanged ideas, with a new network of teachers. He also got a question answered for a student. The student asked, what time did Neil Armstrong land on the moon? The answer came from NASA. He also said that PLN can be eye opening and inspiring.

c4t#1a post blog comments for number 1 and 2

1.In my comment I talked about how technology has really been helpful to me and those of my generation. I talked about how i liked the two questions and agreed on how changes do need to be made in the budget. I stated my convictions of how teachers need to be more educated when it comes to technology.

2.In this comment i talked about how a high school graduate had told me that computers where taken out of his school because of funding. He looked at my blog and said he wished he had learned this in high school.I than stated my conviction that technology should be brought into classrooms not out because they bring a freshness to the classroom.

Blog Post # 4

Asking questions : What questions do we ask ? How do we ask ?

The driving question is, what do we need to know about asking questions to be an effective teacher ?

     Three ways to ask better questions in the classroom. By : Maryellen Weimer, PhD

      Weimer recommends three actions that have the potential to improve our guestioning. Those actions are 1. Prepared questions 2. Play with questions 3. Preserve good questions. Weimer points out that she never prepared questions, she just asked whatever came to her at the moment. Some of the questions were stimulating and provocative; some were not clear at all. She was not surprised when the students looked confused. Weimer read an article by Bill Wetty, that motivated her to try going to class with prepared questions. She found out when you write a question it makes it clearer. Playing with a question means leaving it unanswered for a while and giving the students time to think about it. She lets us know that sometimes when a question is answered so quickly, it is soon forgotten.Sometimes questions like this maybe asked at the beginning of class, but the answer is revealed at the end. A good question can be preserved. The question can be asked in another class even in a different way. Weimer also gives credit to students asking really good questions. Asking good questions help students see the importance of questions, how they make us think and help us learn.

      Asking questions to improve learning, General strategies for asking questions

       When planning questions keep in mind your goals, do you want students to master core concepts? and develop their critical thinking skills ? It is important to ask questions to practice these skills as well as communicate to the facts, ideas, and important ways of thinking so they can learn.Avoid leading questions, the questions that tell the answers. If a question is answered with a yes or no, always as another question to see why the answer was yes or no. For example the student to give you an explanation for the yes or no answer. As the teacher make sure you aim for direct, clear, and specific questions. Make sure these questions come one at a time. Sometimes students get confused and don't know which question you want them to answer. Don't ask questions during the entire class period, this will take away from your teaching or lectures. Don't save the last few minutes of class for questions. Students are unlikely to ask questions when they know class time is about to end.

Project#15- search engines

       

 
     iseek is a search engine that complies hundreds of thousands of authoritative resources from university, government and established noncommercial providers. It provides time-saving intelligent search and a personal web-based library to help you locate the most relevant results immediately and find them quickly later. iseek looks deeper than traditional engines which just skim the surface of the web, to produce the most specific and relevant results available.

     American memory is a search engine that provides free and open access through the Internet to written and spoken words, sound recordings still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience. American Memory will continue to expand online historical content as an integral component of the library of congress, to harnessing new technology as it fulfills its mission for future generations.

     ipl2 is a public service organization and a learning/teaching environment. Thousands of students and volunteer library and information science professionals have been answering questions for thousands of students. ipl2 is basically a volunteered student-driven project.

     Reefseek is a unique approach that offers students comprehensive subject coverage without the information overload of a general search engine- increasing the visibility of academic information and compelling ideas that get lost in a muddle of sponsored links and commercial results

     African journals is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the online visibility of an access to the published scholarly research of African-based academics; this is done by using the internet as a gateway. Ajol aims to enhance conditions for Africans learning to be translated into African development

     Sortfix is one of the more useful search engines for students because it provides relevant, streamline search results. It does this by analyzing the keywords in the search results. This gives the student the ability to focus on or remove, certain keywords. It declares that Google, Bing, and Yahoo may not always be the best pick for students. It is visually appealing and much more user-friendly for younger users.

     QuinturaKids  is another great search engine for visual learners and it works like Sortfix. It is a brain stormer for the classroom. It catches the students attention by using words in clouds. The student will click the word and the search is on. It is one of the safest search engines for education.

      WolframAlpha- Its basic goal is to make all systematic knowledge immediately computable and accessible to everyone It's aim is to bring expert-level knowledge and capabilities to the broadest possible range of people- spamming all professions and education levels. It's goal is to create something that will stand as a major milestones of the 21st century intellectual achievement. It makes the world's knowledge computable.
   

Blog Post 3

                             In reference to the video, Peer Editing, peer editing is a smart way to get students of their own peers to correct each others writing without being to critical. Always remember to treat others the way you would like to be treated. Don't start by reading their papers and picking out all the mistakes right away. Start by letting them know what they have done correct; for example, maybe they have beautiful hand writing or spell very well.Stay positive even if you had to make some suggestions .They may need to work on improving their main idea, punctuation, and grammar. Let them know that you are their to help.
                               We all make mistakes, that's why we need others to edit our writing. Sometimes others can find mistakes that we haven't seen. The slide show peer edit with perfection tutorial stated;we can change someone else's work by considering their feelings. It also brought out things like, telling a person when their paper has good details. You may also say things like your choice of words go very well with your subject. Find more likes then dislikes as you can be more helpful being positive. Doing this doesn't mean writing the paper for them but showing them how it should be done.