Reading Reflection 6

Technology tools can encourage students to be reflective and evaluate their own strengths.  A blog offers students space where they can reflect over time about what they are learning. ProfilerPro is an online survey tool that allows you to identify the learning characteristics of an individual and also among members of a group.  ProfilerPro identifies interests, strengthens, weaknesses, and uses this information to guide learning. Tools like online surveys can also encourage students to be reflective and evaluate their own strengths. SurveyMonkey allows students to set up online surveys and the results are used to track trends and help students see how their self-assessment compares to the larger group.

By tapping students’ prior knowledge will result in a good project. Many teachers introduce projects with a Know-Wonder-Learn (K-W-L) activity. However, it is suggested that a teacher should establish interest and excitement in other ways before becoming task-orientated with K-W-L. The first thing in order to get students’ minds ready for a project is getting the students attention and giving the idea time to settle in their imaginations.  It’s important to encourage the students to explore and think about the topic, and to discuss their ideas with friends.  Before starting a project have students thinking about the topic a week before the project so that they can explore.  Having the students do assignments, research, and readings on a topic before starting the project is a great way to get their minds ready.

As a teacher before launching a project it’s important to think about the teaching prerequisite knowledge or skills students need in order to work with a degree of independence in their investigations. As a teacher we should make sure our students know information about the topic before starting the project. We want our students to know some information or skills so that it will guide them independently on their research. Our students should be presented with knowledge and skills before starting their project. We want to set the stage for independent inquiry for our students. Sharing a rubric with the students will provide the students what needs to be included in their project.

There are several steps in preparing students for the use of technology in a project. As a teacher you want to ask yourself: what tools are best for the job? What do students already know? What will they need to know? Before teaching about a technology, consider how you can set up opportunities for your students to learn by and among themselves. A way to get students familiar with a piece of technology is by setting up a technology playground where students can explore. Give your students a piece of technology and have them try to figure it out. Students can work together to figure out how the technology works or is used. Watch your students and then help them when needed. Have students that are good with technology teach other students. A way in doing so is by setting up computer stations each with one tool that students will use in their project. Have the student trainers demonstrate how to use the tools at each station. Once the student understands the tools at one station have them move to the next. Make sure to discuss the purpose of each tool and set expectation for its use before students begin to work on their project.  Introduce project-management tools to students such as a project log or journal. A project log or journal encourages students to write about their own progress towards goals. As the teacher you can gain insight to where and why the student may be struggling or falling behind. As the teacher, if you feel comfortable with the tools students will use then demonstrate their use. If you don’t feel comfortable ask someone who is to demonstrate such as the technology specialist, another teacher, or a student so that you and you students learn together.

As your students begin to put their plan into action guide your students as they choose question and plan investigations. There are several ways to promote inquiry and deep learning.  All students should understand the following:

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            There is a relationship between need and opportunity, and between scarcity and abundance.

       

      Money, bartering, and other means of exchange have existed throughout history and across civilizations, and they continue to change.

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      Modern money has symbolic worth as an exchange medium.

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            Economics, health, and well-being are related.

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      Money means different things to different people.

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           Humans are interdependent.

A concept in this chapter that relates to our project is the use of technology.  In this chapter it discusses how technology tools can encourage students to be reflective. In our project we are doing this by using a blog to reflect on our learning with others in the classroom. I have never used a blog before and in our project we are posting everything on our blog.  By using a blog throughout this course we are learning how to use the tool so that we can use it for our future students.  The chapter discusses how to prepare our students for the use of technology which we are learning throughout our project.