Blog Assignment #9

When reading Seven Essentials forProject Based Learning, I learned how important the process of students thinking is versus the final project being the focus of an activity. Two things are needed in a GOOD project- an educational purpose and meaning for the students. Students should feel some kind of ownership to their projects; this will help motivate them to dive deep into a particular project. I really enjoyed the 21^st century portion of this article. While collaborating students were able to use online presentation tools, task organizers and pod casts to think critically. These tools are essential to project based learning. The last thing I took away from this article was there is a big difference in project based learning now days versus your poster boards used to make science projects.

In the video Project BasedLearning for Teachers, I was taught students should be working over a period of time to answer a big question. These questions will need critical thinking to be answered. Common core standards are the meat of the projects. How students learn these certain standards should be personalized with projects because these projects will allow students’ to be the forefront in decision making. Technology is huge in PBL, we all know this. With project based learning, students can learn collaboration, critical thinking, and life skills.

          While watching PBL: Whatmotivates students today, I learned how important motivation is in school for students. Things like future life goals, weekend events like baseball games, and being praised publicly are some of the things that may motivate students to do well in school. I have learned free time, school supplies and candy are great rewards and these things alone can be used as motivation for students. ProjectBased Learning in PE really opens my eyes to PBL being in every subject! I would have never thought you could do projects in PE, but the fitness program is an excellent example. It once again follows the guidelines of a project. Creating a fitness plan covers the state standards that must be taught and is very relative to everyday life of high school students. This particular blog post goes to show how versatile project based learning can be. It can be used in any subject and for any common core standard. High School Teachers Meet the Challenges of PBL Implementation really embodies the word innovation to me. Changing for the better and looking at what you have been doing for years and trying to change that to keep up with the 21^st century is what these teachers and administrators are trying to do in this video. I learned that having PBL is to help engage students in classrooms. I like this video because it somewhat delves into what the teachers must do to go all the way with project based learning. Teachers are the ones who have to CREATE these projects in order for students to become more engaged and motivated about learning. Using PBL can sometimes be hard in English and math but it is all about showing the students what they are learning in the classrooms can relate to the world outside school walls.