Morse: Chapter 3 RR

1. Discussion on what should be considered in finding “the Big Idea” for a project.
When planning the "big idea" for the classroom to study as a whole it is important that first and formost curriculum is considered. Ultimately, the students learning and understand the curriculum is what we're here to do as teachers; therefore, when we are selecting the "big idea". While thinking of the curriculum, the concepts and proceses that are built into these guidelines are also needed to be taught and built for our students. As another consideration, the more engaged our students are in the activities that are presented to them, the more they will take in content wise. In order to engage our learners, our activities must be authentic and valuable to their every day life - helping them realize that these concepts are important skills to learn. We can do this for our students by placing them into real world contexts that also offers value to the community to help them "see" the authentic applications of the concepts we are trying to teach.

2. Discussion on the 2lst Century skills.
The projects that we as educators are buildling allows our students to stretch their thinking and develop a higher-order thinking skill by moving from lower-order objectives to higher-order objectives. These objectives include analyzing, evaluating, and creating. Bloom's Taxonomy objectives can be readily used when planning these project-based learning tools and provide our students with critical thinking skills that may not be developed through traditional learning activities.

3.Discussion on the 21st Century literacies.
The four highlighted 21st Century literacies are the Digital-Age Literacy, Inventive Thinking, Effective Communication and High Productivity. Literacy within the 21st Century, students mastering literacy includes students being able to "identify, understand, interpret, create, communication, and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts". 21st century projects allow for students to use these printed and written materials to explore these concepts of literacy through real-life interactions and projects. Students are able to create and collaborate ideas through innovations and concepts of which information can be accessed through technological devices.

4.Discussion on each of the essential learning functions.
Ubiquity: Web-based applications allow students to learn from wherever they are, including both in and out of school. This abillity allows the students to see that learning and information can be done and accessed not just in school but any where they are!
Deep Learning: Technology that is used for learning allows for students to sort information and develop skills to master this technique. This and several other skills students need for learning through technology build higher-order level thinking by students sorting and organizing information to comprehend.
Making Things Visible and Discussable: Using viable pictures and artifacts for studnets to manipulate and look at allow for greater conversation and learning. Students can develop understanding through questions and collaboration by looking at these visible and digital tools.
Expressing Ourselves, Sharing Ideas, Building Community: Students should be given the opportunity to share and express their ideas and thoughts to not other student members but to the greater community. Social interactions through blogs and other web-based communication tools provides support for high-order level thinking.
Collaboration: Working together helps students build information with each other's help which includes students talking through their own ideas. By expressing themselves through web-based communication tools, students can also collaborate with other members of society.
Research: Students can use the Web for information through search engines to help make sense and organize information provided by a larger resource area.
Project Management: Helping students manage time, resources, feedback, and projects as a whole is a major part of project management. Providing organization allows for a smoother learning process. Reflection/Interactions: Students need to have the opportunity to reflect on their learning process and product. This helps to develop higher-order level thinking even further by looking back at drafts and final products.

5.Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.
Our lessons can use collaboration projects and expressing ourselves through epals to allow students to share their ideas and think through their ideas with others. By using technology-based learning, we are also providing an outline for students to use the Web for information. By using the Web, students can build a higher-order level thinking by sorting and organizing information to build visials to discuss and learn from.