RR #5 : Project Management Strategies for Teachers and Learners

1. What items should be considered before starting a project with students?:
Its important as teachers to be resources as sometimes when teaching students the materials can get expensive. See if there are any free materials that you can get. Its also important before you start a project to know what exactly you will need in the classroom for your students and maybe some places where your students can get the materials they need that you send out in an email so that the students are prepared. If you as a teacher are going to use technology its important to be ready to explain and show students the technology and make it fun and accessible for students. Its important for example if your students are doing a research project or something where they need more info if there is an " expert" or someone who knows a lot about the topic to have them accessible for the students through video chatting , coming in to do a presentation, etc. Its important to have deadlines made up for when certain things are due and make sure there is a way that the students and parents can access it. Its important to go over teamwork that will maximize results. Its important that the teammates your students choose will enhance the benefit of their learning and that everyone plays a part in it. Its important to give assessments or evaluations and have them prepared so that way students can give you feedback on what they have learned and maybe what they have liked and didn't like about how you delivered your project.
2. What are the teachers management needs and what are the students management needs?:
The teachers management needs are these: "tools for communication with students and others about the project, tools for making milestones and events visible and for notifying students when changes occur, methods for getting resources to students. systems for managing work products, structures that support a productive learning environment in which teams and individuals are engaged in a variety of learning tasks at the same time, ways to gauge whether students are working productively and accomplishing project goals, ways to assess the load balance within a team so no individuals end up doing too much or too little, and ways to give just in time feedback on student work as it develops."(84-85)
The student management needs are these: "systems and tools that help them manage their time and flow of work, systems that help students manage materials and control work drafts, collaboration tools, methods for seeking assistance. ways to get and use feedback on their work, through self reflection, team input, and teacher advice, and ways to work iteratively and to see how parts add up to the whole."(85)
3. What are some of the technology applications that should be considered for use in a project:
There are so many different technology applications that you can use for your projects. I believe that blogging is a great way in groups to get ideas flowing and people can communicate with each other. Also mentioned is using wikis, audio introductions from teachers and students to each other, photographs, Skype is a great way to communicate, and web visits. Also you can use personalized web pages to show others your information and what you have done! Some examples of these are web mail, calendars, notepads, news and blog feeds, page flakes, igoogle and my yahoo.
4. How do the concepts in this chapter relate to my project of gardening?:
All the concepts and time management tools are helpful for our project because we are planning a gardening unit and all the components of the teacher management will help us create better projects . Also we will be more prepared to actually teach our students if we are more prepared ourselves and pay attention to the things that should be considered before starting a project with students. Also adding technology using different apps will make our project more beneficial!