Plan With The Product In Mind
Planning requires teachers to make choices about what is essential at this day, at this time to help our learners in the future. If learning is not tied to real-world experiences, it is soon forgotten, so teachers must try to "strike a nerve" in their students to promote real learning. Without transparent, important priorities stated as goals, neither the teacher nor the student can be effective.
When planning lessons, there are some things teachers can keep in mind. Using the ideas below, teachers can enhance their lessons with real life applications and the use of technology while keeping in mind all the students that enter the classrooms - gifted and talented, special needs, career-oriented, college-bound, etc. Learning management systems will allow you to organize your content and present it digitally as a way to save time and money.
SAMR
PBL
Want to redefine your classroom but don't know where to start? These steps can help:
Breakdown to rebuild - be willing to depart from what you have always done to transform practices from the ground up
Redefine with a goal in mind - identify the goals you have for yourself and for your students
Get more bang for your buck - what can students do with these devices that would be impossible without them? Create new teaching methods with things like SketchNoting or Quad Blogging
Embrace Failure - if you start with something that falls flat, reflect on what you did learn. By creating an environment where students know this is as new to you as it is to them encourages risk-taking by both you and your students. It also makes room for great achievements. Share what you are learning - the good, the bad and the ugly -in a blog so others can learn from you.
Enjoy the results; reflect toward the future - classroom redefinition is an ongoing process; they must grow and evolve to meet the needs of the students. Take advantage of the ever-changing world of educational technology.
Want more information about SAMR? Click here to find even more information and ways to integrate devices into your curriculum.
What is Project Based Learning (PBL)? According to the Buck Institute for Education, it is "a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge." The steps to PBL include:
Key Knowledge, understanding and success skills - focus on student learning goals, standards-based content and skills such as critical thinking, collaboration and self-management
Challenging question or problem - develop a meaningful problem to solve or question to answer that is at the appropriate level of challenge for your students
Sustained inquiry - engage students in a rigorous, extended process of asking questions, finding resources and applying information
Authenticity - real-world context, tasks and tools based on quality standards; could also speak to students' personal interests or concerns
Reflection - both students and teachers reflect on the learning, effectiveness, activities, quality of work, obstacles and what they can do to ensure all are happening and/or overcome.
Critique and revision - students give, receive and use feedback to improve not only the products but the process as well
Public product - make work public by displaying or presenting it to those outside the classroom and the school
The Buck Institute has created many PBL units that can easily be modified to fit our TEKS. You can locate them here. Be sure to look at multiple grade levels because of the difference in standards; remember you can always change the project/rubric to reflect the level of your students.
Want to know more about Learning Management Systems? Check these out:
Want a co-planner? Need help creating a Project Based Lesson? I love what can come out of brainstorming sessions, so I would love to help! Need help on any of these tools?
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