Final Concept Map

We did not make any changes to our final concept map because we had edited our original several weeks ago and used all of the "balloons" in our blogs, projects, and final website. We believe this final concept map truly shows what our project is about and how we enforced it in our classroom and commemorated it on our website.

Reading Reflection #11

Lydia Harpe

4/12/2013

                                                    Reading Reflection #11

           “Good project don't come to an end. Instead they open new doors and create connections that you can build into future project designs” (159). As part of the reflection process at the close of your project (perhaps at the end or middle of the school year), take the time to consider how you plan to improve on your students' experience. Consider the parts of the project that were successful and the parts that needed a little extra work; critiquing your work and sharing your insights are important ways to insure that your hard work isn't easily forgotten. 

              Yet again, always remember the importance of your fellow teachers as a valuable resource and consider yourself the same for them: having completed a successful project in your classroom, you have the experience and expertise to share valuable tips and advice. Most of all, enjoy the journey and remember that your “small steps lead to bigger ones” (163).

 

              I think that having completed the project of having my students design a dessert cookbook, I would be able to find lots of things I was proud of (as well as some things I could work on)! Maybe the next year I'd try to expand the project into a multi-recipe cookbook...or perhaps I'd just modify what I already planned.

Reflection #11

Amanda Miller 1. As a result of using the project based learning approach, good projects lead to success. As the book states, "they open new doors and create could into future projects." Using project based learning helps student projects and learning become a success! 2. There are several ways to "bring your project home." Some of the way you can do this is by, capitalizing on your investment, critique your work, share your insights, become a resource for your collegues, enter a contest and enjoy the journey. With that being said, when sharing your insights, "share your project idea with an existing network, such as iEARN or Global SchoolNet, where teachers from around the world turn for insiration, good ideas, and ongoing projects they can join." Also, create a project library to make project plans. turn your project into an archive on the web, and publish your project. These are just some of the many ways and ideas to bring home the project. 3. Concepts in this chapter relate to our project because this chapter gives us plenty of resources and information on how are projects can be useful and resourceful even after completing it and bringing it home.

Reflection #11

Corin Justa

Chapter 11 Reflection:

            Project based learning is a new fun and engaging way to guide students along in their education rather than teaching them through lectures and a book. As a result of this learning approach many things happen. Students and teachers take many things away from this type of learning. If successful, it opens new doors to fresh discoveries that connect and can build into future projects. Teachers and students reflect on their work and see how they may have done thing differently or how they would change something in a future project. Throughout this learning experience students may be left with souvenirs, artifacts and memories that will be memorable and useful in the future.

            After celebrating accomplishments at the conclusion of a project and reflecting every little detail of the experience, it is important to remember where the students began and how far they have come as a class. Teachers can “bring their projects home” by sharing them and becoming a resource for other teachers, entering contests, or blogging with others to share experiences and get insights on how to do things differently. These concepts relate to our topic by showing us the closure to these lengthy projects. Identifying the accomplishments and end result to a successful learning experience is the best way to finish a long thought out activity and help teachers and students look forward to the future projects that are to follow.  

Reflection #10

Corin Justa

Chapter 10 Reflection:

            Throughout the duration of a project it is important to help guide students along their journey. The importance of setting aside time for reflection allows for constructive criticism among peers, teachers and the community. By allowing students to look back on their work and admire their accomplishments, we provide the opportunity for the children to observe their experience and really identify what they have learned and where they will go from there. Students need to reflect and elaborate on their work in order to make what they learned more meaningful and cause them to end the project with a positive experience and outcome.

            When students take pride in their educational accomplishments, it is important to support and recognize their work from more than the classroom. By establishing and promoting students learning activities, schools can produce traditions that will excite future students. Schools can work together to promote student successes through rewards and celebrations to distinguish each and every student’s abilities and efforts. All of this relates to our topic by relating the importance of reflection, closure and celebration from successes. After completing a big project students need to be able to take away just as much from the project as what they put in to create it. When we as teachers recognize and admire students work, and guide them to take pride in their accomplishments, we generate the opportunity to lead them to become even more intrigued in engaging in their future educational topics; therefore allowing them to soar as they approach higher education in future successes as they continue to grow and learn.

Reflection #10

Amanda Miller 1. The importance of setting aside time for reflection is important. According to the text, "Taking time to reflect helps students feel good about their accomplishments, but more importantly, reflection can be the thing that makes learning really stick (p 147.)" Also, "When students create their own meaning, its important that they look at it from all sides while meaning is taking shape, and then viewing it from a distance, too, as they get ready to step beyond the experience to the next learning challenge (p 147.)" Putting away time for a reflection will help students see things that they may not be able to think about when it comes to what they have learned, their growth and what they want to learn for projects in the future. 2. The reason students need to reflect and elaborate is because they must be able to share what they are learning about and look back and be able to talk about their learning skills and behaviors to their classmates. This can help students who dont know much about a topic become more familiar by just reading a reflection or elaboration. 3. Schools build tradition and identity by establishing that "we are the school where kids get to..." This means to build awareness to others. It was well said in the text that, "When families, the community, and students coming up throught the grades know what you are up to, you have a foundation for tradition. Younger students will be ready for the learning that awaits them in future project-based classrooms (p 150.)" When community memebers notice and value students accomplishments and work, they will give encouraging support. 4. It is important to celebrate a project. This is because is shines light and importance when students work is displayed and recognized. It give students a sense of pride when student work is displayed. There are several ways to celebrate. SHow students work, put on an event, create a blog, or hold a party. This will help build the schools identity in becoming a place where students can go to learn though project-based learning. 5. Concepts in this chapter relate to our project because once the students finish their cookbook they will be able to reflect and elaborate on it and be able to share with others their experience and journey when making their cookbook. We would celebrate the accomplishments of all students and display student work for others to enjoy :)

Reading Reflection #10

   

Lydia Harpe

April 5, 2013

                                        Reflection #10

         “Taking time to reflect helps students feel good about their accomplishments but...reflection can be the thing that makes learning really stick” (147). This quote really captures the essence of this brief but concise chapter, which explores the importance of reflecting upon and celebrating the completion of a project or learning experience. This reflection can be as simple as sitting down with your students and asking appropriate and prompting questions to get them to reflect on the work they have done. Use the reflection time to make this an opportunity to “springboard” on to the next learning experience.

         Keep the positive momentum of your project-based learning going with advanced projects in upcoming grades; more parents and members of the community will want to get involved when they see the great learning and hands-on activities your students are participating in. Your class may even be able to “lay the groundwork for a tradition of exemplary projects at your school” (151). Not only does this take hard work and reflection, a successful project should be rewarded by celebration and display!

       I think that once my students finish creating their dessert cookbook, they will have a tangible project in their hands that they can reflect upon and be proud of! I hope to come to such a successful conclusion to my project as this chapter promises.