Since we learned that problem-based real world learning is more likely to occur weekly and in some cases daily with students in a 1:1 environment, Please share some specific examples of 5th grade lessons that have been done in this area. Also, what are some examples of how students have been able to direct their own learning? (resources, research and sharing their information)
Your great ideas will help 6th grade teachers begin to plan for next year.
The person who is an expert in this area is Dr. Hooker. She gave amazing help to the fifth grade teachers at my school. We sometimes use a Tic-Tac-Toe graphic organizer to come up with centers which use technology, as well as differentiation. Students select 3 squares to complete, or sometimes teacher assigns appropriate boxes, that way each student gets what they need. These organizers work great when we combine social studies and reading.
I would really like to have some ideas for appropriate projects for 5th grade. I think the challenge is to make them relevant, but not just re-design worksheet activities for the computer. My sense is that there are plenty of ideas and possilby even programs to direct activities out there. The time to devlope and search for them is so limited at this point.,
You bet. We need to develop a library of sorts much like the materials available to us on BT. If I wanted to give my students some background knowledge before reading, it would be great to find resources that others have used instead of spending an inordinate amount of time searching on my own.
OMG! What a wonderful idea! I sure hope something like that is available before the fall semester starts!
I have already seen this type of shift taking placre in my classroom. My students are writing an informational report. Since we use a writer's workshop model for writing, students work at their own pace, and I conference with students individually or in small groups. Students are able to access information more efficiently than when we only had print material and only a few desktop computers for everyone to share. Since they are able to navigate the internet easily, it has expanded the topic possibilities.
I have also had students go on web-quests and virtual field trips to explore topics in depth. It takes a different type of planning, and students are held accountable by logging in information learned during the experience. I have also had students use interactive activities for guided practice of skills learned in whole group lessons. I can work in small groups while students are involved in practice activities.
Using Microsoft Office - power point, publisher, word, excel - allows for a more project centered approach. Both the process and the product become learning experiences in their own right.
I have also used webquests with my students. There are great ones already created online but I have found that I need to modify them to fit my students’ level or tweak them to make sure I am covering the topic more in depth. I have also found the webquests already created are not always self-directed and I like to use them as a starting point to then create my own. I use Powerpoint, then I can easy change or adjust the webquest as needed. I make sure the steps/tasks are easy for my students to follow because the whole goal is for this to be learner directed where they only have to go to me for clarification or technical problems. I also found that creating a webquest as home encounters blocked websites when I get back to school.
The first time my students did a webquest we did it together as a class and I found that students needed the modeling on how to go to a website and locate the links needed. They also needed practice on reading for information and then how to go back to the Powerpoint to continue the webquest. This time spent doing a webquest together really helped when it was time for them to do their next one with a partner. This has inspired me to continue creating webquests and also into creating my first virtual field trip.
"Using Microsoft Office - power point, publisher, word, excel - allows for a more project centered approach. Both the process and the product become learning experiences in their own right."
Patti, at the middle school, I have also seen this occur. Students are choosing to use the tools instead of waiting for the teacher to assist them. Their writing time is less interrupted,resulting in greater time on task and better products. They are motivated to keep on going, as they become more fluent in the use of the tools.
I have always structured by class via a learner-centered environment. I think that one thing teachers can't overlook is that students need to be given options to choose from as well as opportunities to work on their own and find sources that the teacher may not have recommended. But in allowing this, the teacher also has to teach students how to evaluate internet sites.
What is real exciting is that this is the first year, next year our Fifth Grade tema will have more infomation 10 fold. The teachers were learning with the students, next year everyone involved will have that much more experience and that information can be shared with others.
Agreed Chris, a lot of people are focusing on the ideas that the district is not ready and that the technology isn't working, but as you said this is actually a great opportunity for our teachers and students. Our school was a phase 2 school and it has been made clear that we want to work and utilize the tablets in the classroom, but the full force of the implementation begins next year and we as a district will be well prepared from the start of the year, rather then cleaning up the mess during that time. We are setting next years classrooms with the ability to run with the digital advantage from day 1.
I love webquests, but agree that they need to be modified for individual classes or our standards. The ones that currently exist give a great starting point for teachers to use as they design their own. Perhaps we could divide and conquer across the district by assigning specific topics to schools and they would create webquests for SUSD that could be loaded onto a wiki or some other networking homepage. If we started with 5th grade and then worked down as more computers are deployed (fingers crossed), then we would have things ready to go!
At our school we have struggled with some connectivity issues and had to make adjustments. Some of our classes are using spreadsheets to create semantic organizers around topics, the kids use the internet to research all areas of a topic placed in the organizer, then select a specific topic to research in greater depth. They create a product, such as a powerpoint or brochure and present the product to their class or other audience. For example, I created a semantic organizer about the planets of the Solar System - along one axis are the names of each planet. Along the other axis are the specific pieces of information students must research about each planet (ie., meaning/orgin of name, distance from the Sun, atmospheric content, etc.). All students fill out the organizer completely using resources on the internet and then select the planet that they find most interesting to research deeper. This means that they have made an informed choice to self direct their learning. The teacher provides a rubric for their completed "product" and presentation, giving them guidelines for their efforts. Once students know how to fill in the organizer the same "routine" can be used to whet their appetite before any deeper study. You can give them a semantic organizer for Civil Rights leaders and after learning a little bit about all of the ones you want them to, students get to select one to focus on and become an expert!
The kids really like it and now the teacher is free to work with small groups instead of focusing on whole group, direct instruction the entire Literacy block. The kids know the expectations and are excited to direct their learning (within limits a standard), while the teacher is focused on teaching the specific reading skills that individual or small groups of students need.
In my classroom I plan to have my students take part in a project based learning assignment near the end of the year. I want my students to be able to pick the topic and the end project that they wish to do. My hope is to have students engaged in learning about something they really care about and have them apply the computer skills we have been working on in order to create something truly unique.
I agree that for a project to work using technology it has to originate from the students’ level of understanding of technology. We need to continue teaching the process and see were our students are once they go past the novelty of having computers in class.
All of our 5th grade teachers want to do a project based assignment to wrap up the school year. This will be a great way for them to implement technology into that specific project. When the students have an opportunity to choose their own topic and determine the tools they will use in order to complete then they will have more 'buy-in' into completing it and learning from it. My daughter had the option to create a poster board, paper, comic strip, or powerpoint keynote in order to present her research findings on how geodes are formed. She determined her topic as well as how she was going to present it to the class. Her motivation level was so high because she was a part of the planning from the beginning and she had great success with this project. It is so important to give students choices--this is where their creativity comes into play.
I think the potential for deeper learning in project based learning is huge and technology is a perfect tool. I love the idea of "choice" for kids and the inquiry based approach that naturally fits. I think we need to spend some time in our teams or other peer groups talking about really clafifying specific objectives that will be met during the projects. Standards are open ended enough that it doesn't restrict student freedom, but instead really focus us on what the learnings are for our students. I think that determining the objectives and key learning first keeps our kids on the right trejectory. I am looking forward to hearing and seeing the projects as they come forth.
Pam, I agree with you about the endless possibilities within Project Based Learning and technology. At Lauffer Middle School, we are looking forward to truly expanding Project Based Learning through the use of 1:1 computing. Our 6th grade teacher will help path the way. I like that our students will have more freedom when it comes to their learning.
Project based learning has some kids really working and learning but I have a small question about the students that really never do any projects no matter how they are presented. I realize that this is just a small percentage but how do we get them "hooked" so to speak?
I am in total agreement that the potential for deeper learning is limitless in project based learning. We have been implementing PBL stratgies at Lauffer M.S. for the past 2 years and we believe that it has increased student engagement. Technology is an important part of PBL and 1 to 1 computing is the perfect vehicle to assist us in reaching our goals.
I totally agree with Pam that deeper learning will occur in project based learning. What we need to be doing is helping teachers understand how best to facilitate project based learning. This requires understanding how to question and motivate students thinking. Learning is no longer static and tied to textbooks but has unlimited answers and possibilities. Teachers and students will have new ways to share and impart information and ideas using technology. It will be so exciting to see what our 5th and 6th grade students and teachers learn and produce this next year! It will set the bar for all future learning and teaching.
Although I am not at a school that really implements project based learning across content, I have done project based learning assignments within my class that incorporate multiple disciplines. I feel this is such a powerful means of teaching students. Not only is it more motivating for students, I believe it also better prepares them for the future because in life they will have to be able to integrate skills from across content areas. So as teachers, we need to help students generalize information learned in one class to another. So, what I would like to see in the future is more PD about project based learning. And since we have such wonderful experts in our district already, I would hope we would utilize them (if their willing) as our teachers in helping the district move towards a more holistic education for our students.
So many great ideas shared. I think of a parallel to Writer's workshop, while students are working on "their project" at different stages the teacher is monitoring and conferencing with individuals. Working in mini-lessons needed by all students. There are several plates spinning in project based learning - we need to make sure we attend to them all. The thinking processes involved, the classroom managment and procedures that need to be taught, social skills for working in small groups or with partners, and the content area learning involved. Tic-Tac-Toe menus or extension menus, like Dina Chave, referred to are great organizational tools for teachers to structure this type of learning and attend to several of the "plates." Also they are motiving for students because they have choice.
I think the more we can share our ideas and comment on them as a district the stronger we will become. I like this type of forum, you are quickly able to see what is happening at other sites and get some ideas that really make you think. I went to the Saturday technology training in Vail at the end of January and some of the break out sessions gave fantastic, practical ideas to implement in the classroom. There was a handout at one of the sessions that gave a list of good websites. Email me at KarenB@susd12.org if you need a copy. Also, visiting schools that successfully use technology (either in person or virtually) would be helpful. I'm a visual person and it sticks with me more if I can see what people are doing that works!