Blog post #9

In the article ,7 essentials for project based learning I learned that the two most important things as a teacher I need to do is to first, be sure that the project I am doing with the children is something they will find worth working on and putting forth the effort to do their very best. Also, I need to be sure that the project is educational based and has content that the children need to know. Basically, I need to be sure that I am not just giving the children “busy work”. In this article, I learned to first to ask children questions about the problem. Instead of coming in and just talking about the topic and problem, the children need to think for themselves on how they would solve the problem. Once you have the students thinking in the direction you would like, ask them the “big question” or driving question. This question should be open ended, complex, and should link to the big picture that you want them to see. This question is important because without it, the concept of the project you want them to know could be lost. After the driving question, let the children know that this is their project and that they have freedom in what they choose to do. It is important for the children to have a voice in their own project. They will be more willing to work on it if they get to put their own ideas and opinions in it. Make sure they know that this is their project and it doesn’t have to be just like yours or just like their friends. Also, make sure the children are using skills such as group work, critical thinking, and technology through out their project. Be sure to encourage the students to ask questions and then research and discover answers to their questions through out the project. Teach the children to always be looking for ways to learn new things. As the class is finishing their projects, have the children look at and edit each other’s work. Show the kids that it is important to get feedback from each other about their project. Once the projects are complete, either share them on the Internet or with other faculty and classes. Children enjoy sharing their hard work with others.

PBL Video
This video was very interesting and had a lot of information in a short time. Basically, what I got out of this video was that Project Based Learning is a new way to teach where the teacher gives the students a driving question that is in depth and requires the students to research and discover the answer. This way of teaching gives children the critical thinking skills they will need in the real world.

What motives students in the classroom

In this video, the first child talked about how he is most motivated when the teacher compliments him in front of the class. I feel like this is very important to be able to do as a teacher. Everyone wants to feel like the work that they are doing is great and someone likes it, especially children. Children need to feel like their work is good, and if you as the teacher comment on a student’s work in front of the class, then they will be more willing to do their work and do their best on it. One of the boys in the video talked about how in his class his teacher has classroom money and when you’re being good or you stay on green all day, you a get a certain amount of classroom money. However, if you’re being bad or you get moved from green, then you have to give her a certain amount of the classroom money back.  At the end of each week, she has a classroom store with different things they can buy.  I really like this idea for a reward because it teaches the kids responsibility and how to manage money.  If they want an expensive item, then they need to save their money and be good in order to buy that item. Also, in the real world, money is going to be the incentive to get up and go to their job, so why not use money in school to teach them to be good.

Project Based learning in PE

You don’t really think about Project Based Learning being a part of a PE class. However, in this article this teacher put together a neat idea for a high school PE class. This teacher had her high school PE class put together a work-out plan for the middle school students each week. This required the high school students to know the standards for that age group and they had to work together to think of different ways to have the middle school students work-out.  I think this is a neat and fun idea. I also think it would be cool for the middle school students to come up with plans for the elementary age students as well. This would allow the younger kids to look up to the middle school students that are staying active, and maybe encourage the younger students to stay active as well.

Ketchup Video

I found this video to be very interesting. I can not stand ketchup I am completely grossed out by it. However, my brother loves it and he has talked about the problem that these students are trying solve.  I would love to use a 3D printer that these boys did. You can tell that they were having fun and were very engaged in trying to find a solution to this problem.