Brian Crosby is a fourth to sixth grade teacher at Agnes Risley Elementary School. On the second day of school he gave his students a survey to find out where they stood in his class. Out of 24 students, only 3 knew what country they live in. Only 9 knew what city they lived in and only 7 knew their home address. He asks why there is such a disconnect for these students. He says that these students have had a narrowed curriculum since they were born and that they don't have the experiences to help build the schema for the world. He continues to talk about a project he did with a group of his sixth graders. It was about hot air balloons and how they worked. They completed activities and wrote stories as if they were the balloon. After they were done they continued the project by writing high hopes. They wrote high hopes for themselves, their community, and the world. They posted them to their blogs and also created stratocards which would go to the stratosphere. After the students started receiving comments about their high hopes, they decided they wanted to extend the project to others. They received high hopes from all across the world. They combined everyone's high hopes and sent them up on a balloon with a camera attached. The students were able to what happened to balloon after the air pressure decreases. They were also able to track the balloon on their computers in the classroom. After watching this video, I think that it is important that students learn outside of their narrowed curriculum.
The Blended Learning Cycle
Paul Anderson teaches his class with a method called the blended learning cycle. Blended learning is the combination of online, mobile, and classroom learning. The learning cycle consists of five parts also known as the five E's. They include an engaging question, exploring, explaining, expanding, and evaluating. Paul Anderson combines these two methods in his classroom. There are six parts to the steps he uses to teach. They are:
1. Question
2. Investigation/ Inquiry
3. Video
4. Elaboration
5. Review
6. Summary quiz
2. Investigation/ Inquiry
3. Video
4. Elaboration
5. Review
6. Summary quiz
I think that Paul Anderson has developed a very creative way to teach his students. It's a great way for students to be able to learn independently and still need the assistance from their teacher. I would really consider using this in my classroom if I wasn't a PE teacher.
Sam Payne is a fifth grade teacher at Wilson Focus School in Omaha, Nebraska. In this video, he is teaching his students how to use the internet safely. He calls it being a good digital citizen. A good digital citizen is someone who chooses to act safely, respectably, ans responsibly while using the internet. The driving question he gives his students is what kind of power can the internet give us? He gives his students time discuss their opinions about what makes a good digital citizen. Some of the examples of bad digital citizens were hacking and giving personal information. His students continued to create their own super digital citizen. After they create their super hero, they create a story for their hero to be a part of. They used their stories to create a comic about unsafe situations on the internet.
I think that this is an important lesson for anyone who will use technology in their classroom. It's very important that students know how to use the internet safely and responsibly. There are many safe and unsafe opportunities on the internet. We have to teach our students how to be able to know the difference.
Project Based Learning
Project based learning increases student engagement and provides more opportunity for deeper understanding. In this video, a class of students are experiencing an example of project based learning. Their teachers combined 3 areas of study instead of using segmented classes. If you were to ask them which class they were taking they may not know how to respond. They class consists of History, English, and Information Processing. I think that this is a really good example of project based learning. I think that it's really cool that their school allowed them to combine three different classes into one. These students are learning more than just the curriculum and their teachers are very proud of that.
PBL
The teachers at Roosevelt Elementary School actively use project based learning with their students.
Their definition of PBL is:
- In depth learning
- Integrated Thematic Instruction
- Based on a "real-world problem"
- Research Based
- Project and Presentation
Parents like that they use project based learning because it gives them a chance to develop strong speaking skills. I'm in college and I struggle with my speaking skills so I think it's a really good idea to start teaching these skills to younger students. The teachers also like that their students have more choices with PBL. Students get to make decisions like adults do everyday. They say that it important that students have choices because they have different ways of learning. It also gives the student more ownership of their work. Students also learn 21st century skills in PBL. They learn about public speaking, being a good audience, how to work independently, how to work in groups, and problem-solving skills. I really like the concept of PBL. I can definitely see the difference it makes in the ways that students learn. They learn a lot of skills that aren't really emphasized when you just lecture and give busy work.
Good job!
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