Blog Post #6

Project Based Learning

Video 1
Project Based Learning Part 1: Experiences of a 3rd Grade Teacher

I learned in this video that Project Based Learning is always evolving. Projects can be more than showing what the students learned, but the goal is to learn with PBL. The content in the projects is what the teacher wants them to learn. PBL must have student interest though, picking the right projects is very important. The example Anthony Capps gave in the video was a project were the students wrote letters to their congressman. Capps asked his students what they thought about women being able to be on the front lines of combat. This was big news at the time. Capps was able to bring writing, social studies, and reading together in one project. He first told his students to find female historian figures that demonstrated success. They related this to equality in culture and as a class wrote what they thought about women on the front lines of combat. All the students wrote letters, and 8 were chosen to be sent to the congressman. I thought it was interesting that Capps said the students didn't take it personally if their letter wasn't chosen, because each student was very much involved in revising, reflecting, and choosing the best letter to be sent. Capps mentions that the most important part of PBL is the part where students "revise, review, and reflect"

Video 2
Project Based Learning Part 2: Experiences of a 3rd Grade Teacher

Another example of PBL by Capps was a Afghanistan project. Students were  to write as if they were children in Afghanistan. Students used all kinds of programs to pull information of various things that were happening in Afghanistan. Students were very excited and were guided very little from Capps. However, a student whose father served across seas in Afghanistan was worried about his child learning about Afghanistan, and wanted his child to do an alternate assignment. This is definitely an example of being flexible when things are thrown at you unexpectedly. "With PBL never limit your students with giving them exactly what you want them to do, create an opportunity for them to go beyond what you want them to do" quoted by Capps. PBL is successful because the students are learning, and are getting to have freedom to choose. Student choice is a huge part of PBL, because when you give students the opportunity to choose what they want to do with a project they become more proud and creative

Video 3
iCurio

iCurio is an online tool that allows students to search the web safely. First of all it is a search engine; students can search whatever they like and teachers don't have to worry about any inappropriate items popping up on the screen. Next, iCurio has a storage feature. Students learn to organize online, and it is so simple that students usually learn as they go. iCurio also has a timeline feature, where students can search by criteria or historical figures to find a timeline of what they want to know. Lastly, there is a read along feature, which can be a great for students with any disabilities or for any student who would like to just hear the words on the screen. This program seems incredible and Capps recommends it to all students from Elementary to High School

Video 4
Discovery Education

Discovery Ed is another program that Capps recommends to teachers. Discovery Ed brings video and visual learning into the classroom, and basically "brings an expert into the classroom via video". The text of what is being taught for the day can be brought to life with Discovery Ed. Students can also incorporate this audio and video into projects. Capps mentions that the students don't necessarily like this more than reading but associate reading with audio and video in his classroom now.

Video 5
The Anthony - Strange Tips for Teachers Part 1

Dr. Strange and Capps discussed tips for teachers.

1. Be a constant learner yourself
• As teachers, we are constantly learning, reading, and growing professionally.
2. Teaching never ends it is hard work; it is very rewarding
• Be fascinated in your teaching and learning.
• Teaching is hard work, but you can have fun with it.
3. Be flexible
• Surprises happen!
• Be creative, and respond to events that can happen with patients
4. Start with a goal
• Have an end goal
• Focus on your goal
5. Engage
• Make content they care about
• When the students are excited about projects, they are more proud of their work
6. Reflect
• Critics
• Revision
• Always making their peers better

Video 6
Don't Teach Tech - Use it

Although technology can be very controversial it is here to stay. Even in low income areas technology is available for students. Capps tells teachers the you shouldn't teach it, but teach by using programs one at a time, and that way they can build on each other, and they are mastering each program as they go. Students get to be creative and it is also great for the teacher because you don't have to pay for anything, its clean, and its sharable in the classroom.

Video 7
Additional Thoughts About Lessons

According to Capps lessons should be 4 layers thick. Every layer has a goal, and as the teacher it is important to accomplish your goals daily, so you can accomplish your weekly goals, then unit goals, and in the end you will have accomplished your goals for the year!

1. Year
2. Unit
3. Week
4. Daily lesson