How can I facilitate a student centered classroom?
Through my experiences in college, and in this class, I have already begun to orchestrate a student centered classroom. This is an environment where the students lead themselves towards their learning and understanding so that they are able to reach a stronger understanding of what is being studied. I can continue to facilitate this practice by questioning by students. I believe, that by asking questions, I can allow my students to solve problems on their own. Making more of our learning about investigating and problem solving. This becomes more engaging for the students, and more successful in the long run. Posing open ended questions and continuing to question my students to guide them, will create a classroom where they are in charge of their own learning and I am merely a facilitator to keep them going.
How can I use technology to support my instructional practice?
I have learned a great deal more about technology through my experiences in this class. I have been able to expand my horizons and will be able to let my students have these same experiences. I can use this technology to give my students choices on their work. The days of paper and pencil are quickly disappearing, and with my new knowledge, I can make my students experiences in my class more interesting and also prepare them for a future where they will need all of this technological knowledge. I think the most exciting thing, for today, right now, is allowing my students different ways in which to work. Once I share all of the technology with them, they will be able to choose what they like and what works well for them, play with it, and make it their own.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Our 6th Class
How can I help my students become self-directed learners?
I think this is a process, and it will not happen instantly. I have always worked from a sort of investigative approach when I teach, especially in the areas of math and science. So, in a way, some of my kids are used to this style of learning. However, as 2nd graders, this is very difficult for many of them. They always want "the right answer" or "the best way" to do something, and I try from the start of the year to break them of this. I want them to be responsible for their learning. This project will be a perfect way to take my students to another level of self-direction in their learning. It will take baby steps at first. I will need to help self-direct them, if that makes sense. I will have to create steps with them so that they feel comfortable to take the project in their own direction. I think, once they get used to this, they will be able to do it more independently in the future. Then I can, hopefully, let them go a little more on their own.
How can I support the diverse needs of learners?
It was really great to have the discussion we had last night, there were some great ideas shared. A few of the "students" sounded like they were pulled right out of my class. I definitely have some kids who are very bright but very OCD. They need specifics, they need guidelines or they become overwhelmed. I think that the checklists and rubrics we have created will help these students to stay organized but still allow them creativity and ownership within the project. I also have kids who are little "DB's". I loved the idea that a group shared about putting those kids in the leadership role, allowing them to become "experts" at something so they can feel like they are the center of attention. My kids who are like this, love the attention, and that would be a great way to help them thrive. I have one student who is ELL and struggles daily in class. I think the mentoring system we have set up will really help him exceed and the use of images and spoken word, rather than writing will be good for him as well.
I think this is a process, and it will not happen instantly. I have always worked from a sort of investigative approach when I teach, especially in the areas of math and science. So, in a way, some of my kids are used to this style of learning. However, as 2nd graders, this is very difficult for many of them. They always want "the right answer" or "the best way" to do something, and I try from the start of the year to break them of this. I want them to be responsible for their learning. This project will be a perfect way to take my students to another level of self-direction in their learning. It will take baby steps at first. I will need to help self-direct them, if that makes sense. I will have to create steps with them so that they feel comfortable to take the project in their own direction. I think, once they get used to this, they will be able to do it more independently in the future. Then I can, hopefully, let them go a little more on their own.
How can I support the diverse needs of learners?
It was really great to have the discussion we had last night, there were some great ideas shared. A few of the "students" sounded like they were pulled right out of my class. I definitely have some kids who are very bright but very OCD. They need specifics, they need guidelines or they become overwhelmed. I think that the checklists and rubrics we have created will help these students to stay organized but still allow them creativity and ownership within the project. I also have kids who are little "DB's". I loved the idea that a group shared about putting those kids in the leadership role, allowing them to become "experts" at something so they can feel like they are the center of attention. My kids who are like this, love the attention, and that would be a great way to help them thrive. I have one student who is ELL and struggles daily in class. I think the mentoring system we have set up will really help him exceed and the use of images and spoken word, rather than writing will be good for him as well.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Our 5th Class
How do I assess student learning?
I use many ways to assess student learning. In 2nd grade there is a lot of informal assessment as students work on various tasks during the day. When I look at this project, I can see that there will be room for both formal and informal assessment as we work. I will work with the students to create checklists and rubrics that they and I can formally assess with. However, as we work through the whole process, there will be a lot of informal assessment opportunities. I will constantly be making observations as the students work. They will be exploring many new technologies, and as they explore and learn, I will observe their work.
How do I involve students in the assessment process?
I have not done this much in the past. However, my team and I discussed working with our classes to create the checklists and rubrics together. I think this will put a more clear vision in my students minds of the expectations of the project. This will also give them more ownership of the entire project. I believe I will be able to use the fact that we "planned the assessment together" as a way to hold them more accountable as well. "remember when we put this checklist together? You agreed that this was do-able....."
I use many ways to assess student learning. In 2nd grade there is a lot of informal assessment as students work on various tasks during the day. When I look at this project, I can see that there will be room for both formal and informal assessment as we work. I will work with the students to create checklists and rubrics that they and I can formally assess with. However, as we work through the whole process, there will be a lot of informal assessment opportunities. I will constantly be making observations as the students work. They will be exploring many new technologies, and as they explore and learn, I will observe their work.
How do I involve students in the assessment process?
I have not done this much in the past. However, my team and I discussed working with our classes to create the checklists and rubrics together. I think this will put a more clear vision in my students minds of the expectations of the project. This will also give them more ownership of the entire project. I believe I will be able to use the fact that we "planned the assessment together" as a way to hold them more accountable as well. "remember when we put this checklist together? You agreed that this was do-able....."
Friday, November 6, 2009
Our 4th Class
How can the creation of a student sample help me clarify my unit expectations and improve instructional design?
Even discussing the student sample has changed the way I have looked at this project. I could already get myself more focused, after talking about what I could create. I think I had some expectations in my head that were not totally realistic for my 2nd grade students. After discussing it, I was able to start thinking in more of a "2nd grade" frame of mind. I believe, after creating the sample, this will become even more clear. It will also help in guiding my instruction. As I create this sample, it will make the steps more clear to me and allow me to guide my students through this process more effectively.
How can I ensure students will achieve the learning objectives when creating their student projects?
I need to ensure that I have assessments aligned to my learning objectives so that I can keep track of what my students are learning. If I am not holding my students accountable in some way, I cannot ensure that they are achieving the objectives. If I set clear objectives and inform them of how they will be assessed, I believe they will achieve these goals.
Even discussing the student sample has changed the way I have looked at this project. I could already get myself more focused, after talking about what I could create. I think I had some expectations in my head that were not totally realistic for my 2nd grade students. After discussing it, I was able to start thinking in more of a "2nd grade" frame of mind. I believe, after creating the sample, this will become even more clear. It will also help in guiding my instruction. As I create this sample, it will make the steps more clear to me and allow me to guide my students through this process more effectively.
How can I ensure students will achieve the learning objectives when creating their student projects?
I need to ensure that I have assessments aligned to my learning objectives so that I can keep track of what my students are learning. If I am not holding my students accountable in some way, I cannot ensure that they are achieving the objectives. If I set clear objectives and inform them of how they will be assessed, I believe they will achieve these goals.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Our 3rd Class
This module has helped me think about the impact of the Internet on my students’ learning in the following ways….
I feel as though I need to educate my students on using the Internet. They are very young and inexperienced when it comes to using the Internet, especially for researching. Through this project, I believe I will be able to put my students a little ahead of where the other 2nd graders are, preparing them for future work, as they move up in their education.
I also feel more educated, myself, on the issues with copyright, and feel more comfortable sharing this with my kiddos. I want to ensure they understand all of these concepts, as they will only need these skills and understandings as they progress.
I feel as though I need to educate my students on using the Internet. They are very young and inexperienced when it comes to using the Internet, especially for researching. Through this project, I believe I will be able to put my students a little ahead of where the other 2nd graders are, preparing them for future work, as they move up in their education.
I also feel more educated, myself, on the issues with copyright, and feel more comfortable sharing this with my kiddos. I want to ensure they understand all of these concepts, as they will only need these skills and understandings as they progress.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Our 2nd Class
This module has helped me think about using standards, CFQ’s, or formative assessment in the following ways…
This module really helped our group focus our project and start coming up with some ideas on how it will look in each of our classes. I was able to find the standards I will use with this project, which also helped focus me on where the project will go and what it will look like happening in my room. The CFQ's will be extremely useful in guiding my instruction. It was easier to create these after reviewing some examples during class.
I am still feeling a little lost about the assessments, but hopefully this will become more clear as we continue our work next week.
This module really helped our group focus our project and start coming up with some ideas on how it will look in each of our classes. I was able to find the standards I will use with this project, which also helped focus me on where the project will go and what it will look like happening in my room. The CFQ's will be extremely useful in guiding my instruction. It was easier to create these after reviewing some examples during class.
I am still feeling a little lost about the assessments, but hopefully this will become more clear as we continue our work next week.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Our 1st Class
How can projects help my students meet standards and develop 21st century skills?
Attending this class will guide me in the direction of developing 21st century skills. The projects will be conected to real life, giving my students relevant projects to work on while they hone their technololgical skills.
How can I use projects to enhance student learning?
The students learning is going to become more personalized for them. These projects are going to put them at the center of the learning. They are going to learn the new skills, which will be used as they move up in grade levels.
This module has made me think about my role as instructional desginer by allowing me to really see that I am a desginer rather than "the leader". I think I will be able to get my students to take control of their learning, rather than me controlling it.
Attending this class will guide me in the direction of developing 21st century skills. The projects will be conected to real life, giving my students relevant projects to work on while they hone their technololgical skills.
How can I use projects to enhance student learning?
The students learning is going to become more personalized for them. These projects are going to put them at the center of the learning. They are going to learn the new skills, which will be used as they move up in grade levels.
This module has made me think about my role as instructional desginer by allowing me to really see that I am a desginer rather than "the leader". I think I will be able to get my students to take control of their learning, rather than me controlling it.
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