Project-Based Learning Research: Avoiding Pitfalls The challenges many teachers face in implementing project-based learning well are not to be taken lightly, but we've compiled a list of strategies to avert the most common issues educators face. There are many potential barriers to implementing successful project-based learning -- it requires serious student and teacher commitment, adequate planning time, and buy-in from the top down. But with these practical tips based on research findings, you can stay away from the most common mistakes educators make, and be confident you are getting started on the right foot with PBL. Schools That Work: Fifth-grade students at the Ferryway School in Massachusetts went on a field trip to visit a historic water wheel (left) and then built their own water wheels with the help of a mentor engineering student (right). Credit: Rob Weller Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes Wrong turns often lead to some of the most memorable learning experiences. Model Active Listening and Full-Group Attention
Exploratory Learning: A Toolkit to Turn Elementary School Kids Into 'Neighborhood Detectives' | Education on GOOD As Neighbor Day approaches, we here at GOOD would like to suggest that kids take a break from all that in-class activity and explore the world right outside their door. In collaboration with two wonderful first grade teachers, we’ve put together this terrific tool kit: the projects within it demonstrate that, for elementary school kids in particular, there are a million things to learn and discover while taking a walk around the block. The Neighborhood Tool Kit takes its inspiration from Ms. Linnea and Mr. James’ first grade class at Children’s Day School in San Francisco. The school is located in the heart of the city’s Mission District where a walk in any direction provides a unique sensory experience. The ideas and projects here are meant to inspire (and we think they can be a valuable addition to curriculum). Neighborhood Study Toolkit Assignment #1: Mapmaking: A Tool for Hitching Children’s Lives to Their Places We asked the following questions to support the children’s work: A. B. C.
What To Know About California's New Online Education Program There are some dramatic headlines making the rounds today in the edtech world. The latest school system to adopt online learning, the University of California system, has announced a pilot program for lower-division online courses powered by Udacity. To most of us, this is not huge news nor is it surprising. But it seems to have taken the tech blogs (TechCrunch in particular) by storm as they start talking about the end of higher education as we know it. Key Points It’s worth knowing this stuff as it’s what your colleagues and administrators are going to be talking about today. Backed by Gov. From The TechCrunch Article: Today, the largest university system in the world, the California State University system, announced a pilot for $150 lower-division online courses at one of its campuses — a move that spells the end of higher education as we know it. Predicted Timeline Of Major Higher Ed Changes Weigh In What do you think?
How To Start Using Google Apps In Education As teachers, our plates are perpetually and impossibly full. The idea of adding one more component – such as incorporating technology into instruction – can seem daunting to say the least. In my own attempts to incorporate technology into my practice, Google has been the most valuable tool I have found thus far. Not only does it increase my ability to organize my instructional tools, but it also allows me to incorporate more technology when I feel ready to do so. Why use Google Apps? Google provides a multitude of Apps that can be accessed through multiple mediums – computer, smartphone, or tablet. These apps are all free and come with varying levels of privacy ranging from completely public on the web to limited only through sharing with specific contacts. So how can I use Google Apps in my teaching? To showcase the management advantage of Google Apps, I will highlight an example of how I use Google Apps in my own instruction. Maybe not right now…
PBL Made Easy With Blended Learning What is Project Based Learning? “Project-based learning is a dynamic approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges. With this type of active and engaged learning, students are inspired to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they’re studying.” Common Characteristics of PBL: Hands onInquiry drivenCollaborativeStudent centeredRelevantTackles real world challengesShared with larger community or audience How is PBL aligned with Common Core? Emphasizes communication Stresses real world relevance Encourages higher-order thinking skills – analysis, synthesis, evaluation & creation! Goals of PBL: Develop flexible knowledge & adaptive expertiseMotivate self-directed learningTeach effective problem solvingDrive inquiryLearn how to communicate & collaborateImprove intrinsic motivationShift to active learning Web 2.o Tools to Support a Blended Approach to PBL: Project based learning by nature takes time. Google search - search engine for finding great information.
10 Free Typing Practice Activities for Students This afternoon I received an email from a reader who was looking for some typing games that her elementary school students can play to practice their touch typing skills. I've reviewed a lot of online typing practice activities over the years, but it has been more than a year since I updated my list. So this evening I put together an updated list of online typing practice activities for students. Type Rocket is a free typing game from ABCya. Z-Type is a simple and fun typing game. If you want students to take a break from the games, have them use Typing Speed Monitor for Google Chrome. Typing Adventure is a nice little game that young students can use to practice their typing skills. Good Typing is a free online typing skill development program. Dance Mat Typing is a nice little resource from the BBC. Word Games offers a large collection of online word games and typing games. Typing Web is an online typing tutorial that provides instant feedback after every free typing lesson.
10 Learnist Boards to Help You Keep Your New Year Resolutions We want to go back to the classroom healthy, happy, and rejuvenated. But you know how it goes–a few cookies, a bunch of holiday meals, some wine, catching up on work, stressing about the new year. It doesn’t take much to get us out of balance. So, if you have strayed from healthy living or are beginning your journey toward a healthier you, this week’s Top 10 Learnist boards will help. Functional Fat Loss Nutrition Fitness author and consultant Nate Miyaki’s board on how to trim up after the holidays using his methods of “intermittent feast” is hard core, but the results cannot be disputed. Trying to Lose Weight? Let Food Be Thy Medicine Jeff Wolfsberg’s board explores the connection between diet and physical, emotional, and spiritual health. 2012 in Review: Health and Fitness Emily Dingmann posts boards on the year in review–what worked and what did not in diet and fitness trends. Superfoods All hail to kale. Thumbnail via the Scientific American
Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938 The Library of Congress Manuscript Division, Library of Congress and Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress Search by Keywords | Browse Narratives by Narrator | VolumeBrowse Photographs by Subject | Browse All by State Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938 contains more than 2,300 first-person accounts of slavery and 500 black-and-white photographs of former slaves. The mission of the Library of Congress is to make its resources available and useful to Congress and the American people and to sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations. The Library of Congress presents these documents as part of the record of the past. Special Presentations An Introduction to the WPA Slave Narratives by Norman R. Voices and Faces from the Collection American Memory | Search All Collections | Collection Finder | Teachers
50 Ways to Use Wikis for a More Collaborative and Interactive Classroom Wikis are an exceptionally useful tool for getting students more involved in curriculum. They’re often appealing and fun for students to use, while at the same time ideal for encouraging participation, collaboration, and interaction. Read on to see how you can put wikis to work in your classroom. Resource Creation Using these ideas, your students can collaboratively create classroom valuables. Student Participation These projects are sure to get your students involved. Group Projects Allow wikis to facilitate group work by using these ideas. Student Interaction Get your students to work together on these projects. For the Classroom Use your wiki to create spaces that are special to your class. Community Reach out to the community with these resources that everyone can appreciate. Other Here are even more fun and useful ways to improve your classroom with a wiki. Did you enjoy this article?
Digitally Interfaced Book: Paper, Graphite, Makey Makey, Scratch, and Imagination As a professional artist, deepening the ways in which seemingly disparate objects and processes are interconnected through locating, and mapping their intersections has been one of the main elements of my studio practice. The Fab Lab tools and working processes create an environment that is well suited to investigating those types of intersections. In an effort to integrate Fab Lab tools centered on craft, and studio-based processes into the classroom, I have been working to implement a Mobile MakerCart at a project-based K-8 charter school. In addition to introducing craft-based physical computing projects to the children, a guiding principle behind the MakerCart is to give teachers the opportunity to develop familiarity with the MakerCart’s tools and processes in order to be able to envision the ways in which they might be able to develop their own curriculum for use in the classroom. Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig.3 Fig. 4 1.1 Fold The Paper Fig. 5 1.2 Create Your Story Fig. 6 1.3 Build The Circuit Fig. 7
Using Modern EdTech To Teach About Classic Films Over Christmas, an updated version of Raymond Briggs’ ‘The Snowman’ hit the TV screens here in the UK. Aside from the fact I can’t quite believe it was 29 years ago that it premiered, I have to admit I am slightly intrigued; and if nothing else, I always see lots of benefits in bringing the old to the new. Over the last few years many old or ‘classic’ films have been remade and adjusted in order to appeal to a new audience. Some argue that they have lost their essence and power in the remake; while others feel it can be a great way of showing our younger generation classic films that will no doubt be talked about in years to come. Raymond Briggs’ ‘The Snowman’ So…back to The Snowman. The new ‘fresh, not identical’ version of The Snowman has been produced, using traditional techniques and many of the original creative team, at a cost of £2 million. Teaching About Classic Films If you are teaching your class about film, why not discuss remakes with them.
The Paperless Classroom with Google Docs - EducationOnAir Session Description The Paperless Classroom With Google Docs The Paperless Classroom with Google Docs! Google Docs makes it possible to create and share documents digitally. Audience Suggested audience: AnyonePrior experience or knowledge: Beginners (new to this topic) Logistics Time: 1pm EasternSession hashtag: : #paperlessConference hashtag: #eduonair PresenterEric CurtsTechnology Director, Ohio Access To express interest in joining this session, comment on this session post on Eric’s Google+ Page and add Eric to your Circles.Please note that it is not possible for everyone to be part of the Hangout.
Four Reasons Your Students Should Join the Quest2Matter Choose2Matter is a start-up founded by my good friend Angela Maiers, a former teacher well known for her TedXDesMoines speech; Jennifer Bowden, also a former teacher; and Mark Moran, creator of SweetSearch. Choose2Matter challenges people to accept that they matter and to contribute their unique genius to solve the world’s problems. The Company is sponsoring the Quest2Matter, which invites students to share their ideas and actions for solving problems that have meaning to them. Here are four reasons your students should join the Quest2Matter: 1. Students want to matter. 2. 3. 4. Click here to learn more about the Quest2Matter.
10 Reasons To Try 20% Time In The Classroom If you haven’t heard of 20% time in the classroom , the premise is simple: Give your students 20% of their class time to learn what they want. Yes, that’s it. Below is a list of the 10 reasons you should consider 20% time in your school, and you will not regret making that choice! 1. When I first did the 20% project with my students I didn’t have a community of teachers or learners. 2. One of the major issues we face in schools today is covering a wide breadth of information, instead of allowing students to get a real depth of knowledge. 3. When students in my school have their pitch day, they get to share with the entire class what they are working on. 4. Too often our students complete assignments for the grade. 5. Randy Pausch famously said, “If you think you can’t learn and have fun at the same time. 6. It doesn’t matter if you teach elementary, middle, or high school. 7. 8. Experiential and challenge based learning puts the mastery back into the student’s hands. 9. 10.