What is Project Based Learning? u01a1

In this blog post, I will be exploring three examples of project based learning.  I will be identifying the circumstances and design principles that were common among the three examples, defining the role of the teacher and the student, and explaining how and why these learning experiences increased student engagement and knowledge/skill acquisition and transfer.

"More Fun Than a Barrel of ... Worms?!"- Diane Curtis, Edutopia

1. Role of teacher: The role of the teacher in this case was to support the students on their journey and to sometimes help the steer in the right direction.  Doing one of these projects takes a lot of planning.  It is the role of the teacher to make sure the students have everything they need to be successful in the project.  
2. Role of student: The role of the student in this project was to actually create the project. They chose the animal they wanted to know more about and they created their own guiding questions. "I want to know where they live.." and so forth. The students had control of their learning by choosing topics. After their topics are chosen, they created guiding questions that allowed them to map out their projects. They the reach out to experts, go on field trips and create other projects to help them find answers to their problems/questions. 
3. How and Why did these learning experiences increase student learning (engagement, knowledge, skill acquisition and transfer? These experiences fostered learning because the students were engaged.  They were the architects of their own learning instead of being spoon fed information by the teacher.  They designed their projects and created ways for themselves to discover the education.  They learned because they were active learners throughout the whole process.
4. Design principles: These projects began with curiosity about a topic.  One class decided to research pets that do not make asthma worse.  It all begins with curiosity. After they decide on a topic, they then figure out what they want to know.  After they find out what they want to know, the students brainstorm ways to find the information they want to know.  This whole design is centered around the students with support and planning from the teacher.  They carry out their project and seek the information they are looking for.  

"Geometry Students Angle into Architecture Through Project Learning"- Sara Armstrong, Edutopia

1. Role of teacher: The role of the teacher was to plan and support the students. She sought out experts to act as mentors and helped guide her students to success. She didn't tell them the answers but helped them succeed.  She also was in charge of assessing the student's work and developing a rubric. In this case, the teacher planned the basis of the project. 
2. Role of student: The role of the student was to design their own proposal of a high school of the future.  Each group was in charge of making a sketch, writing a proposal, and come up with the cost of the new high school.  They are in charge of making the decisions. 
3. How and Why did these learning experiences increase student learning (engagement, knowledge, skill acquisition and transfer? The students learned and made connections during the project because they again, were the architects (literally and figuratively) of their project.  The students wanted to impress the expert architects, they wanted to win the design competition. They also saw geometry in a completely new light.  They saw a real world application of the knowledge that they learned over the year.  They also learned other skills during this project. They learned how to properly give a presentation and compete for a 'job.' These are these skills that the students will ened in the real world. 
4. Design principles: The students are to take their knowledge they learned over the year and apply it to designing a future high school on a specific plot of land.  The students were then left to design the best high school they could on that land.  After the students completed their proposal, costs outline and sketch, they presented their high school to the class and experts.  At the conclusion of the project, the students went on a class trip to see and discuss some of the architecture of Seattle. 

"March of the Monarchs: Students Follow the Butterflies' Migration"- Diane Curtis, Edutopia

1. Role of teacher: The role of the teacher is to support the students and to help guide them along their project.  The teacher supplies materials and technology that allow the students to complete their project/challenge.  The teacher organized trips outside to help the students record their observations. 
2. Role of student: They use their personal observations to help study the migration of animals, including monarch butterflies. They then share their findings with their classmates and others via the internet. The students use the Journey North program to complete several different projects and come up with a product or solve the problem by working together and cooperating during problem solving.  
3. How and Why did these learning experiences increase student learning (engagement, knowledge, skill acquisition and transfer? It works because the students take ownership of their learning. The students write the letters to the students in Mexico and make their own personal observations. The students themselves become the scientists instead of reading what another scientist has done.  When the students take charge of the learning, they acquire a knowledge that is lasting!
4. Design principles: These projects are located on a website called "Journey North." This website lists several different projects for students to complete.  The site gives a prompt or a challenge  and the students are required to problem solve and make observations in order to complete a challenge or answer the problem.  These projects allow the students to be in control of their learning.  

Reflection: What was Common?
There are many common themes among these projects.  The one similarity amongst all three projects is that in all of them, the students were in command of their own learning.  For the most part, they were in charge of figuring out how to answer a problem or complete a challenge.  They had to identify what they needed to know, and how they were going to get what they needed to know.  After they found the information they needed, they took the information, organized it and drew their own conclusions based on the information.  It student based learning at its finest! The students themselves were required to foster connections to the real world and they were required to not only regurgitate information, but to apply it to the real world.  The application of knowledge really allows students to develop strong skills and they will maintain this real world connection forever.  The teacher also had a similar role. They acted as support systems through the learning.  They were there to help the students stay on course and to act as a mentor. They also had the job of assessing the projects through rubrics.  The design of the project was similar.  They each had a topic. The students then brainstormed the information they needed to complete the project. The students then figured out how to get the information and then executed their plan and made observations   The students learned from a project they themselves designed.  This I believe is the foundation of Project Based Learning. 

You.com

This project was actually very fun to do! I first tried Vizualize.me   I filled out my profile but when I went to my 'portfolio' and it said that this feature was it its beta and couldn't be used. I decided to try another site so I deleted my vizualize me account.  Next on my list was about.me.  I liked this one much better.  It was easy to connect my linkedin and my Instructional Media Blog. I added a link to my blog and an RSS feed to my individual posts. I added my bio, education and tags that illustrated things about me.  I also added links to my edmodo and ustream profile.  I chose not to add my facebook account, just because I fear my students finding my personal page. I added a picture of my dog and I on the beach which is my favorite place in the world. I really like how this profile looks and it is really easy to use.   One thing I did like about vizualize.me is that it looked more like a resume. I wish I could take both sites and squish them together.  The last bit that I added was an education quote :)

My About Me :)

Digital Dossier. Are you aware?

This really did scare me a bit.  That every google search, every facebook post is storing information in my digital dossier.  Its hard to fathom all the digital footprints I have left.  From credit card information to facebook pictures.  One can know almost everything about me just by canvasing my digital footprints. I post to facebook, buy things online, heck, I even take classes online.  All my banking is done online.  It is scary to know that my life, potentially, has been stored online.  

My adult life has been stored online. My student's digital life has started much earlier.  The internet was growing when I was a teenager. It wasn't readily and constantly available till I was in college. In high school, I had to dial up.  My students have constantly been around digital technology.  It has been a part of their lives since birth. Their digital footprint has begun much earlier than mine.  

I think this has a HUGE impact on children.  It has been ingrained in their lives since birth. I think its been to the point that it would be hard to remove technology from their lives.  I remember my childhood, I didn't have a cell phone till I went to college.  I could live without it.  These kids today have a hard time separating their digital selves from their physical selves.  Both of those are fully entwined. The scary part, is they don't realize what is going on.  They don't know what effect those posts on facebook will have on getting a job or getting into college.  They don't realize that when they post to facebook, they relinquish ownership of their photos. THey don't know that even if they delete a photo, it is still stored somewhere in internet land.  I think we will see the effects in the future. Imagine this generation running for president? Campaigns are going to be even dirtier now that we leave a digital trail.  

Broadcast Yourself... UStream

Honestly, this project scared me to death. Scared me so much I immediately contacted the instructor!  My fears were eased and I looked into USTREAM. Honestly, attending the webinar also helped me overcome my fears.

I signed up for UStream and downloaded the Ustream Producer and the desktop streamer.  When I downloaded the producers, I then had to figure out how to get my desktop able to broadcast.  I had to watch youtube videos on how to broadcast my desktop. It took me a few minuts to figure it out.  I did a few tests and I finally was able to get it up and running. It was a little complicated but I thought I had it.

After I got that figured out, I had to decide what to broadcast.  I did a PowerPoint presentation earlier this week to my school board on the Ignite Torch. (I had to present to get the grant) I thought it would be a great idea to use that information. I decided to try to use Prezi.  I transfered the PowerPoint presentation to Prezi and it looked great. This project also allowed me to learn to use Prezi.

My original date and time came.  I was well on my way  with the presentation when the bandwidth was too much and it kept on kicking me offline.  I tried lowering the bandwidth but it still wouldn't work.  I got frustrated and decided to try again the next day.  It was much easier to do the next day, but I still ran into problems.  I finished the broadcast, but it didn't save to USTREAM, so again, I had to do it again.  It went fine and this time I finally got it done AND saved to Ustream. I had three viewers to my first attempt. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it through my 10 minute presentation. I had two on my second. I couldn't figure out how to get a chat feature working.

It was a frustrating process and it definitely needs a learning curve.  I am sure one can invest in a broadcasting program that is much easier and more reliable.  USTREAM was great for a free service.

Looking back, I should have tried a few more test runs, but I thought when the first ones worked, I'd be good to go.. boy was I wrong.

I did postings announcing my broadcast on my blog and UStream  makes it easy to share on facebook and twitter. I did leading up to my first scheduled broadcasting.  I also made posts after the fact when I couldn't get through my presentation to reschedule.

The presentation went fine, and I found that I actually enjoyed it.  After doing this and attending the webinar, I can see how live broadcasting can benefit education. It makes distance learning possible.  When I was in high school, I was in a Russian class and we had 4 students from another district that participated via distance learning.  At that time, the equipment was big and bulky.  It is much easier now with just software and a webcam.  It could also allow those on home study to still attend classes.

I would use this technology in the future if all of my students had access to the internet and computers.  Hopefully in the future, it will happen.  I could also have students create broadcasts on their end.  It woud make a great project.

UStream Channel:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/travla01

My broadcast is the most recent one on my Ustream channel.

Discovery Education Webinar: Middle School Social Studies Techbook: What are the 5E's and How Do They Fit My Classroom?

Date and time:	Thursday, April 18, 2013 10:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00) Change time zone
Program:	Techbook Webinars
Duration:	1 hour
Description:	ENGAGE students as they EXPLORE social studies through digital media We'll EXPLAIN how digital media can change the way students experience social studies, ELABORATE on how digital media can be utilized to meet the needs of every student, and EVALUATE student progress through US History, World History and World Geography concepts. The Webinar I chose to take part in was a discovery education webinar dealing with a new product called a Techbook. It is an electronic textbook.  I chose this webinar for several reasons. First, it fit my schedule. It was one of the only webinars I could find that did.  It is also coordinated with my subject area!  My school is beginning to explore the idea of digital textbooks. I was interested in seeing how they could be integrated into the classroom. I am actually interested in trying to get it for my school.   What were the strengths and weaknesses of the show format? I was unsure as to what to expect in a webinar.  I have never been to one before.  The one weakness that it did have was the time.  It was very late webinar.  It started at 10 and was an hour long. This was a weakness for me because it was a school night and I have to be up at 5:20 in the morning.  Another weakness is that it didn't allow me to really explore the techbook.  She did offer us a trial after, but I would have liked to maybe explore the techbook, with her.  I also would have like a little more interactive features. We had a chat, but it was only used to answer some questions. Although it had those weaknesses, it also did have its strengths.  It opened me up to a new piece of technology that I didn't know existed. The format was easy to follow.  The technology was not confusing or hard to use on my end. The chat feature was easy to find, even when she shared her screen and we had to go open the chat again. The show was easy to register for, and it was easy to enter the webinar. I had no challenges attending the webinar.  It peaked my interest in the subject and the product.  The format allowed for people to ask questions, it also allowed powerpoint slides and voice lecture.  The webinar also allowed for the techbook to be fully explained.  I believe the webinar served its purpose.  I am now interested in the product!! Would you participate in future shows of this nature? Of Course! I was able to gain a lot of valuable information through this webinar.  I would love to learn more information about teaching and new teaching tools for Social Studies and History.  How could this type of webcast be incorporated into the classroom? I think this could be used to have guest speakers that are too far away or unable to come into the classroom. This will allow the students to interact with them via chat and allow the students to see the person and learn from them.  This could also be used for distance learning/homebound students.  It will allow the teacher to teach the child without being in the same room.  I believe this technology can definitely help education!!  The students could also create their own as a project. I think this could also be used for professional development hours/credits and during in service days.   How might you use it with students?  As attendees or broadcasters? This question relates to the question above. I think it could be used both ways.  As attendees, students on home bound or unable to come to school because of a medical reason could use this technology to learn and keep up with the curriculum when they are out.  It could be used for summer school as well.  For my current class, I don't know if I would use it. I work at a very rural district. Many of my students don't have internet access so it would be difficult.  As Broadcasters, I could have students create a broadcast for a project.  Instead of an oral presentation, they could do this. I still run into the lack of technology problem here too. I learned a lot from this webinar.  I actually felt more comfortable doing my broadcast project after watching this.  I can't wait to sign up for my trial of this techbook! I'll have to keep an eye out for these webinars. I also attached my certificate! I think it was neat that they included it.

Try again tomorrow

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/travla01

Tomorrow at 11am I will be broadcasting again. I ran into some problems. My video got cut off twice while broadcasting.  I picked up where I left off and the first part didn't record to my computer or online.  I will be attempting it again tomorrow.  I lowered the bandwidth and hopefully it will cooperate tomorrow!

Sorry!

Live Broadcast Tomorrow!

It will begin at about 4:30 tomorrow and last about 10 minutes.  I will confirm the time tomorrow!