Reading Reflection #8

Reading Reflection #8

1.      Description of some ways to build connections and branch out beyond the classroom.

Some ways that you can build connections and branch out just beyond the classroom includes connecting with experts, expanding the learning circle, communicating findings, letting the students lead, and extended the benefits. Connecting with experts is so beneficial because opens doors for students to understand things. The example given in the book was interviewing experts. This creates a great learning opportunity for the students, that the teacher could have never been able to teach through a text book, but instead have them experience real world situations. It’s always a great idea to expand the learning circle because real learning happens once you step out of your comfort zone. It’s important to communicate with findings so that everyone is on the same page. A great way to do this is to do a class blog, this can be used in the classroom and utilized outside of the classroom as well. Technology can make this very easy, like creating videos with I-movie. Letting the students lead gives them a sense of independence and allows the student to be able to feel a sense of responsibility and feel like they are in charge. This overall might mean that you have more

2.      Description of the EAST Initiative Model.

The EAST initiative model stands for Environmental and Spatial Technologies. Part of this is to make sure that the schools are utilizing technology for a real purpose. They include more than 260 schools in seven states. They are now a non-profit organization.

The EAST initiative model has four essential ideas built into it, they include:

Student-driven learning- This is where students need to be responsible for their own learning.

Authentic project-based learning: This is where the students should be engaged in solving real problems in their communities.

Technology as tools: This is where students need to access to the relevant technologies that professionals use to solve real problems.

Collaboration: When students accomplish more than any one person can so in isolation.

3.      Discussion on some reasons to let students “lead” their projects.

Some reasons teachers let students lead their projects are because children can be more involved if they feel like they had a say so or feel more connected to the project if they lead projects. This allows children to really dive in and show you what they know. I will want to encourage my students to lead their projects when I have my own classroom. The teacher knows what to do, so the teacher shouldn’t be leading because it’s the student’s opportunity to learn. Plus, with the students aware that they are leading a project, might mean having a great outcome for the product/ project.

4.      Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

This concept relates to our topic by building connections with other classmates and we are technically branching out and reaching out to others. We are stepping out of our comfort zone by expanding the learning circle. We also communicate with group members about our findings and also we communicate with other groups about what we are doing as well. We are also technically leading our own project, we have deadlines and requirements of what to do, but we are free to create products of our own. We as the students in the class are leading our own assignments, we are learning from professionals and we also have created a blog, where we can communicate in and away from the classroom. This chapter relates to everything that we are doing for our project.