The first video interview with Anthony Capps about Project Based Learning was a great example of a project that can be used in the classroom. The project Anthony instructed with his third grade class was to write letters to the congress about if women should be able to serve in the armed forces. The students had to critique each other’s work and choose 8 letters out of the 28 letters written to send.
Thomas very much liked Capps’ examples of PBL especially the Afghanistan culture example.
Thomas found that he already knew much of the information that was presented. He knew and understood the concepts of PBL. He had a project that illustrates his knowledge of it, and it remains within the same consistency of these videos. Though, he wish he had these videos when he began learning about PBL. He liked the direct examples of actual learning that had occurred through utilizing PBL. He thinks it would be more beneficial to have linked it with his project where he was actually learning about PBL, rather than having him summarize it.
We all agree that project based learning is an effective way of learning. This project shows how students get excited about the letters, and what kind of responses they received. Choosing the 8 letters got them to think critically and be non-bias.
Our group has different opinions on this iCurio interview as well. The iCurio Video with Anthony Capps was about what iCurio can provide to the students and the teachers.
It explains that iCurio is used by students as a safe search engine. Students can search and explore the material in iCurio, which is pulled from the internet and monitored for student use. The material also follows the standards for all the different states, so the teacher can make material available from whichever state is applicable. The children will then learn according to those standards. Anthony explained, students can save what they find when researching and start organizing their resources online with folders.
Teachers can find sources, and specifically make them available to students. It is also an organizational tool for teachers as well.
We agree this is a wonderful tool for the children. The children will learn from searching and exploring along with getting organized through iCurio, which is a very important aspect to their future. Teachers will not have to worry about the students searching and finding something inappropriate because iCurio is monitored and edited for student use.
Thomas had the same feelings about iCurio video as he did for the Project Based Learning videos.
Thomas still considered this to be an interesting discrepancy that he had with Dr. Strange and our group, and he felt that it should be asserted. If you were to go through his PBL presentation and his icurio presentation, you would gather the same information these videos present. So, he feels this post should be about something else, and the videos should be justly linked to the projects that they are connected to.
As a group, we agree these videos are very informative. Thomas just thinks they should have been presented to us before we completed the projects on Project Based Learning and iCurio.
Additional thoughts about lessons by: Jamie Baxter
Anthony Capps did an excellent job when explaining lesson plans in four layers. The first layer is thinking about the entire year, and how your lessons will be sufficient. He explains, the teacher needs to think of goals and concepts the students should learn throughout the year. These concepts can be broken down into units, which is the second layer he described. This will allow teachers to plan the lesson over a course of time, and not expect the students to know everything in one day. The teacher can start with one aspect the first day, and by the end of the unit the students will know everything the teacher is trying to teach in that unit. The third layer is the teacher’s plan for a week. The teacher needs to figure out what the students need to learn each week, and make sure everything is covered within that week. The fourth layer is the lesson plan for each day of the week. This has all the details that are being taught that day. This could include activities for the students and the questions the teacher wants to ask the students. All of these layers are equally important when a teacher plans her lessons.
Don’t Teach Tech- Use It- by: Thomas Leytham
This video does a good job explaining how to properly utilize technology in the classroom to make for better learning experiences. Honestly, the title says it all. Don’t just teach technology, utilize it.
As my dissent describes, I find that for many of these videos, there are better places for them to be placed, and this video falls in the same category. I believe it should have connected either with blog post 2 or blog post 3.
Blog post 2 is discussing utilizing technology and it could be effectively placed there. Blog post 3 discusses podcasts, and there were many points that stated not to teach podcasting, but to teach through podcasting. Though, I believe post 3 needs a facelift completely, and I’m unsure this video will be as applicable there after that occurs. (Read my blog post 3 to see my opinion about this.)
I wish I had more to add about this video. But since I already understood the information, I was a little bored and didn’t learn anything personally.
I think you did a great job at summing up the videos with Anthony Capps.I found your blog interesting. I also thought that projects Anthony talked about were great ideas. He gave the students motivation to write a good letter and also let them learn how to critic each other. I thought the iCurio video was very helpful. I am glad you mentioned that on iCurio the students can save things they find useful. I did not know that until I watched the video.
ReplyDeleteThis comment only applies to the individual portion of your blog post.
ReplyDeleteI think you have the alt/title modifiers mixed up. The alt modifier is the short description of the image, and the title modifier is where you put the source! Also, I suggest reviewing comma placement rules. Other than that, very good post!