Morse RR Chapter 8

Covers Chapter 8, Building Connections and Branching Out, of Reinventing Project-Based Learning, p. 125 to 138.

Your reflection should include:

1. Description of some ways to build connections and branch out beyond the classroom.

The use of technology increasingly allows for the opportunity for projects to branch out beyond the classroom. Using this technology allows students to communicate with an authentic audience who can share comments, read, watch, and/or listen. This in itself will create a motivator for students to perform at a higher level. Blogs and websites are two examples of how we as educators can use technology for an authentic audience.
Technology can also be used to communicate with experts in the course of researching. Communication with experts and even other classroom/students will also help your classroom branch out. When inquiry is incorporated into the project, communication with experts is essential for students during their exploration of a particular topic. Whether it is face-to-face or through technology, students will be able to build questions to ask and learn how to build personal responses to the information they are given.
Student collaboration using technology is also essential for project based learning. Communication within the classroom, school, and even the country or other countries are also experiences that will all benefit the students learning. Wikis, podcasts, skype, and other digital tools can also be used for communication and collaboration amongst students.

     2.  Description of the EAST Initiative Model.

EAST stands for Environmental and Spatial Technologies and its Initiative Model is used for demonstrating the benefits of using technology to solve problems and make improvements in their communities.

The EAST model is built on four fundamental ideas:

Learning is student driven and need to be responsible for their own learning.
Students should be engaged in solving real problems in their communities - authentic learning.
Technology needs to be used as learning tools to help solve authentic problems.
Students need to be collaborating in times to pursue authentic projects.

Teachers also play a new role in the model. Teachers now become facilitators rather than directors. East teachers must also learn to let students take the lead when it comes to learning so that they are given the opportunity to take responsibility for their own choices and learning progress.

     3.  Discussion on some reasons to let students “lead” their projects.

When students are able to lead their projects, they are also given the opportunity to chart their own learning paths and growth. They are able to see what they learned and the path they took to get there. Students are also able to preserve their learning path and developing new strategies for learning. Through the use of technology students are able to capture learning paths and discoveries and preserve student thinking through these technological tools.

     4.  Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

Letting students take lead and use technological tools are all things that will be used in my project. Allowing students to use wiki pages and blogs to collaborate with their classmates and other classrooms around the world are two examples of how my classroom will be using technological tools to work together. Students will also have the opportunity to use skype to talk to experts/professionsals on their topic and generate questions and responses related to their topic. Students will have the opportunity to take control of their learning and be able to see their growth and development throughout the project.