Throughout chapter two, it was made clear
that project based learning will be useful in the lives of everyone for as long
as there is work to be completed in a learning community. A learning community can be any business
work team, big or small, that engages in ongoing, collaborative problem solving
focused on making the business better. Learning
communities are beneficial because they in the process, individuals and the
team expand their ability to achieve the end results. Importantly, they assist each other in
developing new ways of thinking and new strategies to find a solution based on
the prior knowledge of the individuals. Learning
communities effect teachers because with all of the extra work that teachers
are responsible for leaves little time for them to discuss, in detail, and
share their strategies with other fellow teachers. However, learning communities makes this
possible and encourages teachers to make beneficial additions to their
strategies. Learning communities affect
students by creating a teaching strategy that allows students with many
different learning styles to learn.
Shared vision in learning communities creates a school where everyone
works together in learning and growing as a whole. The goals of a school with a shared vision
includes that the students are learning, a culture which welcomes collaboration
and school improvement in encouraged, and results are focused on. This chapter on learning communities relates
to our project highly in the area of collaboration and shared ideas. Not only is our project being completed
through a process of shared ideas and strategies of our group members, but also
in our virtual project as well. We are
extending our learning community across the globe to receive knowledge and exposure
to many other areas as well from a country across the world that our students
will communicate with.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Reading Reflection #2
Learning communities are an interesting part of teaching that many of us will face in our future careers. The main focus of learning communities is working together and collaboration.
One of the main benefits of learning communities from the teacher's perspective is being able to collaborate with other teachers and brainstorm together. Teachers in a learning community are able to work closely with each other and bounce ideas off of one another. This makes it easier for planning lessons and other activities that go on in the classroom. Another benefit is being able to be around other teachers instead of just students. Single teachers in the classroom do not get a lot of time to interact with other teachers. However, I would prefer to work alone in the classroom for the most part, just because that's the type of teaching style I prefer.
Learning communities can be great for both the teachers and the students because it strays from the traditional way of teaching. It mixes things up a bit for the students and can make learning a fun experience for them and their peers. As for the teachers, it gives them a break from teaching the same way over and over and it allows them to try new teaching styles. Learning communities not only allow for teachers to collaborate, but also students. All in all, learning communities create a rich learning experience for both the students and the teachers.
There are many components that go into creating a professional learning community. First of all, there has to be a clear sense of mission among all teachers in the community. If not everyone has the same mission, then the community wont function well. Not only do they have to share a mission, but teachers should also share the same vision for the classroom, shared values and beliefs, and be able to work together. Of course, in a learning community, teachers should always focus on what's best for the students and their learning. This should be a common goal among the teachers. These teachers should also be open to change and be willing to improve and improvise their work as time goes on.
The concepts in this chapter relate to our project, because our team will be working as a learning community to provide these kids a great lesson. The three of us will brainstorm and collaborate to decide what activities will be best for our fictional classroom. To be successful, we will need to incorporate concepts we have learned into our project.
One of the main benefits of learning communities from the teacher's perspective is being able to collaborate with other teachers and brainstorm together. Teachers in a learning community are able to work closely with each other and bounce ideas off of one another. This makes it easier for planning lessons and other activities that go on in the classroom. Another benefit is being able to be around other teachers instead of just students. Single teachers in the classroom do not get a lot of time to interact with other teachers. However, I would prefer to work alone in the classroom for the most part, just because that's the type of teaching style I prefer.
Learning communities can be great for both the teachers and the students because it strays from the traditional way of teaching. It mixes things up a bit for the students and can make learning a fun experience for them and their peers. As for the teachers, it gives them a break from teaching the same way over and over and it allows them to try new teaching styles. Learning communities not only allow for teachers to collaborate, but also students. All in all, learning communities create a rich learning experience for both the students and the teachers.
There are many components that go into creating a professional learning community. First of all, there has to be a clear sense of mission among all teachers in the community. If not everyone has the same mission, then the community wont function well. Not only do they have to share a mission, but teachers should also share the same vision for the classroom, shared values and beliefs, and be able to work together. Of course, in a learning community, teachers should always focus on what's best for the students and their learning. This should be a common goal among the teachers. These teachers should also be open to change and be willing to improve and improvise their work as time goes on.
The concepts in this chapter relate to our project, because our team will be working as a learning community to provide these kids a great lesson. The three of us will brainstorm and collaborate to decide what activities will be best for our fictional classroom. To be successful, we will need to incorporate concepts we have learned into our project.
Sarah Hughey's Reading Reflection #2
1. Discussion on the focus of
Learning Communities.
Benefits for teachers include more connections to colleagues and less isolation, more dedication to the mission, more sharing the responsibilities with other teachers rather than carrying everything by oneself, better learning, and a better chance of changing the foundation and systems of the school rather than constantly having to fight a futile battle for a needed change.
Learning Communities shift their focus away from the traditional focus on what is being taught to what the students learn. As quoted from Reinventing Project-Based Learning, the three main goals that Learning Communities emphasize in order to focus on what students are learning are 1) "ensur[ing] that students learn", 2) "creat[ing] a culture of collaboration for school improvement", and 3) "focus[ing] on the results". Within the PBL Learning Community, a single teacher cannot function as efficiently as they could with only their classroom and resources; a teacher must find others who are willing to collaborate with them in order to reach these goals.
While I don't doubt that these goals are met through PBL and Learning Communities, it would be hard to convince me that other types of teaching do not also want to ensure students learn and have successful results and to have a culture of collaboration. One could argue that the goal of collaboration is harder or near impossible to do in a traditional classroom setting, as this book has done, but for every example the book gave of a teacher not being able to collaborate in a classroom, I can come up with another example of a teacher meeting these goals without using PBL or the book's version of Learning Communities. Again, I'm sure the book's method towards teaching meets the goals stated, but I'm still not convinced that it's the best way for every teacher no matter who the teacher is. I'd also argue that there's a lot of overlap between what is being taught and what the students learn. I understand the book's distinction between the two, but I don't think the distinction is as great as what the book makes it out to be.
2. Discussion on the benefits of
Learning Communities.
Benefits for learners include students learning to work and learn together, developing group-working skills necessary for the workplace, doing projects similar to the ones done in the workplace and being familiar with what has to be done to achieve success, developing general communication, management, and motivation/persistence skills, and building bonds with their peers and having someone to share the ups and downs with during their projects.
Benefits for teachers include more connections to colleagues and less isolation, more dedication to the mission, more sharing the responsibilities with other teachers rather than carrying everything by oneself, better learning, and a better chance of changing the foundation and systems of the school rather than constantly having to fight a futile battle for a needed change.
3. Discussion on how Learning
Communities affect teachers.
Beyond the benefits listed above for the teachers, I noticed that the book also stated that the programs Learning Communities use focus on "adding something new rather than improving what a teacher is already doing". I actually do not agree with this philosophy at all. New and changing ideas are great, but I would much rather be able to perfect something I'm doing before moving on to another idea rather than just changing ideas for the sake of adding new ideas. Yes, I would immediately switch ideas if what I was doing was not working whatsoever or if there really is something out there that has benefits that I can't get with the current idea, but I don't agree that adding something new should be emphasized over improving what is being done. Teachers should feel free to keep doing something that's working rather than pressured to keep changing for the sake of change.
4. Discussion on how Learning
Communities affect students.
Many of the effects Learning Communities have on students were listed above under benefits. To also link it to the last chapter, students will leave the classroom with strong memories of the work they did when teachers come together in Learning Communities and implement PBL in their classrooms. With the quality teaching and learning that comes from these, it will be hard for students to forget the projects and items they worked on throughout the year. Making school fun and memorable like this can motivate students to continue in their education, reduce drop-out rates, and increase the likelihood students will want to continue onto higher education after their K-12 years are over.
5. Discussion on the components
for shared vision in Learning Communities.
In order to have a successful Learning Community, the members and overall community have to share certain components and qualities, otherwise it will not work or be as effective. These include clearly knowing what the mission is and believing in it, agreeing with each other on what must be done to achieve the mission, working with each other in teams to figure out what the best way possible there is to achieve the mission, having these groups headed by teacher-leaders, a focus on student learning rather than what is being taught, being results/goal-oriented, working and collaborating with teach other, and a dedication to improvement and life-long learning. I think that all of these goals are great not just for Learning Communities using PBL but also for schools everywhere.
6. Discussion on how concepts in
this chapter relate to your topic/project.
This chapter relates to our project in every way. The three of us will have practice working as a "Learning Community" as we work on this project throughout the course, and we will work hard to apply the concepts from this chapter in our project. I think that we will even receive some of the benefits teachers get from being a part of a Learning Community as we work together and prepare to become teachers; for example, teamwork will make us feel less isolated, will make us share responsibilities rather than feeling the whole weight of the project by ourselves, and will make us feel more dedicated to the work when we know others are depending on our collaboration and hard work.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Assignment IV Link - Google Document and Google Map
Google Document:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-bLm9mUD0TO61e8Rjkp2UDXIORlU7qN27WHUVFp6k_k/edit?usp=sharing
Google Map:
https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zPp7bl687O0U.kBvJeIvrMTAE
Map Description:
This map shows the locations of both classes and the distance between them.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-bLm9mUD0TO61e8Rjkp2UDXIORlU7qN27WHUVFp6k_k/edit?usp=sharing
Google Map:
https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zPp7bl687O0U.kBvJeIvrMTAE
Map Description:
This map shows the locations of both classes and the distance between them.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Reading Reflection #1
Throughout
the introduction of “Reinventing Project Based Learning”, Boss and Krauss did a
great job supporting the idea of establishing a new way of teaching,
reinventing Project Based Learning. All
of the stories that were discussed about teachers who incorporated this new
project based learning method into their classroom were very excited fulfilled
with the results.
As the
students of Western Michigan University’s teaching program are introduced to
the reconstruction of Project based learning and the success stories that are available,
they more than likely will develop an interest in incorporating this method
into their classrooms. While beginning
the journey through Project-Based Learning, it should be kept in mind that the
majority of today’s students are up for the challenge. As students are exposed to new modern forms
of technology throughout their everyday lives, they appreciate the opportunity
to take advantage of exposure to new technologies through this method of
learning. There will need to be
communication and cooperation between the teacher and students. Project Based Learning is a new direction in
teaching that has adjustments that will need to be made. However, It should be kept in mind that the
projects that take place in the classroom are rewarding and worth the effort
and will likely restore or create a new passion for teaching. After the students have completed their
project in the past, traditional method of learning, the papers that contained the regurgitated information
are likely to be thrown in the recycle bin and the success of the student’s
completed project forgotten. With the
reinvented Project Based Learning, it should be kept in mind that students live
and learn in the real world. Once the
student’s projects are successfully completed, they should be encouraged to
share their findings and take part in other areas of study of the topic. With this incorporation of sharing their
findings with the public, the students will realize that their work matters. It
should also be kept in mind that new, modern technologies such as laptops and access
to internet are a context that encourages the Project Based Learning approach
to teaching. The access to this
technological equipment and doors of communication it opens should be kept in
mind.
Project
based learning is rewarding for the teacher as well as the students. The relationship between the teacher and the
student becomes stronger as they develop new ways of working together and
accepting and incorporating new ideas. Through
this new method being used in the classroom, students develop good
communication skills as well as inquiry skills, learn to be flexible with their
working hours, develop a full understanding of how the world works and come to
the realization that they, themselves, can do something to make a change in the
world.
Although
Project Based Learning has received outstanding reviews, there are also areas
that need to be considered while undertaking this teaching approach. Teachers nay discover that they need to
conduct more research, or seek expert advice.
Also, unless the entire school’s educational staff is initiating Project
Based Learning into their classrooms, it may be an uphill battle to explain the
reasoning behind your method of teaching to fellow employees. New Technology Model has the tendency to
attract upward bound teachers and often leads these teachers to advance to
administrative positions. New Technology
High received exposure to this method from Curtis, Curtis was eventually
promoted to the position of curriculum director.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Reading Reflection #1
As I was reading the assignment, one main aspect that I realized is important to start my journey in PBL is the ability to adapt to change. Change is inevitable in PBL and as a teacher I will need to be able to adapt to those changes and learn to be flexible with my teaching. I also need to keep in mind that with PBL I will not only be teaching, but I will be learning along with my students too. I will need to get comfortable with taking the role of the learner in the classroom.
The overall benefits of PBL are great. It is a new, profound way of learning that strays from the traditional learning styles. PBL is more engaging for both the students and the teacher, and both gain a deeper knowledge from this type of learning.
PBL has many benefits for students including preparing students for the real world, learning to work collaboratively, developing a deeper understanding of topics, and many more. I think having students engaged in real world activities is a great way for them to learn and for that learning to make a deep impact on their experience.
One issue that should be considered in the PBL approach is the fact that technology is not the focus, but simply a tool of PBL. Technology makes PBL more approachable and it helps students get a better understanding of topics by researching, blogging, and collaborating, but it is not the main focus.
One great example of how New Technology High represents the New Tech model is the fact that they keep their student capacity to no more than 100 students per grade. Having a small school makes for a better, hands-on learning environment and allows students to collaborate more easily. The bond between students and teachers is also good since there is a smaller student to teacher ratio and they are able to get to know each other on a deeper level.
The overall benefits of PBL are great. It is a new, profound way of learning that strays from the traditional learning styles. PBL is more engaging for both the students and the teacher, and both gain a deeper knowledge from this type of learning.
PBL has many benefits for students including preparing students for the real world, learning to work collaboratively, developing a deeper understanding of topics, and many more. I think having students engaged in real world activities is a great way for them to learn and for that learning to make a deep impact on their experience.
One issue that should be considered in the PBL approach is the fact that technology is not the focus, but simply a tool of PBL. Technology makes PBL more approachable and it helps students get a better understanding of topics by researching, blogging, and collaborating, but it is not the main focus.
One great example of how New Technology High represents the New Tech model is the fact that they keep their student capacity to no more than 100 students per grade. Having a small school makes for a better, hands-on learning environment and allows students to collaborate more easily. The bond between students and teachers is also good since there is a smaller student to teacher ratio and they are able to get to know each other on a deeper level.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Sarah Hughey's Reading Reflection #1
When
reflecting on the reading assigned for this week, the first thing that comes to
mind is that I need to make an effort to be open to what the book has to teach
me about the Project-Based Learning (PBL) method of teaching. When I started reading this book, I was
immediately turned off by two things: 1) the book’s reliance on personal
testimonies and case studies to promote PBL rather than referencing
peer-reviewed studies and research on PBL versus traditional teaching and 2)
the tone that any teacher who is not using PBL is doing something wrong. I personally believe that if a teacher finds
a research-backed manner of teaching that s/he is comfortable with and finds
that her/his students are successful with this method, then no one should be
shaming that teacher for his/her work, so I am extremely tempted to just remain
close-minded to the rest of the book after feeling like the opening chapters
stigmatize those who choose a different method of teaching. This was a less-than-positive way of starting
my journey through PBL, and I have to make sure to not let the bad first-impression
stop me from really considering what this book has to say.
Something
that will help me stay open to listening to what the book has to teach me is to
remind myself what the overall benefits of the PBL approach are. With projects, students can use technology in
ways that can lead them to learning or experiencing things that the teacher
would not have been able to take them, meaning that teachers learn along with
the students and are able to meet required benchmarks in more ways than
one. It would be exciting to see where a
lesson can go and reach rather than just stick to a pre-determined plan all of
the time. Teachers are also encouraged
to collaborate with each other and with sources outside of the school, ex.
experts in the field or other schools in different countries, which can lead to
better results and exploration than what could have happened if the teacher had
no feedback. And with these benefits,
teachers using PBL report feeling more fulfillment and satisfaction with their
jobs. Perhaps PBL can even reduce rates
of teacher burnout!
Along with
the previously mentioned benefits, there are also many benefits that the
students get from PBL as well. As the
book states, students not only gain skills in teamwork, research, communication,
and applying their knowledge to the “real world”, but they also are able to
self-manage and monitor their progress better.
All of these skills are great and will help them succeed in everyday
life and in the workplace, but I believe that the self-management and time-management
skills are what may give PBL a step above some other teaching methods; I
believe that these two skills will help students gain more independence,
confidence, and less frustration in just about any facet of life. And combined with the encouragement for students
to become active rather than passive learners, these benefits for students make
PBL a viable option to consider when choosing a teaching method.
However,
beyond just considering the benefits, there are also issues to be considered
with the PBL approach. The reading
emphasized that PBL takes an extensive amount of preparation and planning on
the teacher’s part, and I get the feel that it is much more than what needs to
be done with a traditional lesson. This
tells me that teachers have to be prepared to put in much more time and effort
using PBL, and they also have to be ready to make mistakes and be open to a lot
of change. PBL also means that the teacher
has much less control over the classroom and the lesson, as students are in
charge of their learning with the teacher as more of a guide. Having less control over the classroom honestly
sounds a bit scary, so teachers need to be ready to fight the temptation to
take back the power from the students. Also,
a teacher using PBL has to be ready to explain why s/he is using this method of
teaching and have answers ready for skeptical parents and/or colleagues. These issues are the ones that I consider the
most pressing when it comes to considering the use of PBL in my future class,
but they are not enough to completely stop me from keeping the option of PBL
open.
Finally, the
last topic I will reflect on is how New Technology High is an example for the
New Technology Model. The items that
stuck out to me the most on how this school embodies the New Technology Model
are how PBL and real-world applications are the focus of the entire curriculum rather
than just an option or a side piece, how students have access to computers and
their “project briefcases” whenever they need it yet the focus doesn’t shift to
the technology, as it is seen as a tool and not the goal, and how collaboration
and constructive feedback takes precedence over grades. All of this tells me that the students under
this model are going to be well-prepared for the workforce in terms of not just
technological savvy but also in terms of their readiness for tackling projects
and receiving/giving constructive feedback, and the fact that this model is
financially backed by for-profit businesses shows that these skills are highly
sought after.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Hello Emilee, Sarah, Arika Blog
Hello everyone! My very first Blog ever!
Four Words in regards to blogging:
This. Is. Awesome. Already. :)
-Arika
Four Words in regards to blogging:
This. Is. Awesome. Already. :)
-Arika
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