Reading Reflection #3

• There are some things that need to be considered in finding "the Big Idea" for a project. Some things that need to be considered are what are the core concepts and processes should students know after studying with you? Thinking about real-world contexts help to reveal the interdisciplinary of a project. It is important to know that when students know that their project offers value for their community, they become even more invested in learning. Also, brainstorming with colleagues will help you further expand your thinking about the learning opportunities that projects present. Helping one another can bring great possibilities.
• Skills that are associated with 21st-Century skills include analyzing, such as examining, explaining, and illustrating. Another one is Evaluating, such as judging, debating, and recommending. Lastly there is creating, such as adapting, imagining, and formulating.
• Along with 21st-Century skills, there is 21st-Century Literacy. It comes down to learning to be independent, aware, and productive citizens. A true-to-life project naturally involves opportunities for learners to become literate in the 21st-Century sense of the word and for teachers to accomplish their own 21st-century instructional goals.
• Essential Learning Functions are associated as well. There are eight functions. 

1. Ubiquity: Learning Inside and Outside the Classroom, and All the Time. This is giving the students an opportunity to learn anytime and anywhere.
2. Deep Learning: Going beyond "filtered" information and help students find and make sense of "raw" information on the web.
3. Making Things Visible and Discussable: it is important to show rather than tell. A picture is worth a thousand words.
4. Expressing Ourselves, Sharing Ideas, Building Community: Blogs, social software, tagging, and virtual meetings.
5. Collaboration-Teaching and Learning with Others: Plan and write together using shared applications.
6. Research: Taking advantage of the internet.
7. Project Management: Planning and Organization: Helping students manage time, work, sources, feedback from others, drafts, and products during projects.
8. Reflection and Iteration: bring them to a high polish is the difference between acceptable and masterful work.

• 21st-Centruy skills have a major role in the project me and my group are working on. All those skills are being used by me and each group member in order to successfully complete the project. Along with the 21st-Century Literacies as well. We are keeping in mind all of the learning functions in order to complete our project.