Chapter 1 Reflection

1.    Discussion on what you need to keep in mind as you start the journey through Project-Based Learning (PBL).

As teachers, we need to remember that today’s students are connected to technology in almost every aspect of their lives. Therefore, they are more than capable of using new tools in the classroom. We also need to remember that new projects are worth the effort put into them. This will require change but it will be change for the better. Sometimes it’s easy to just think of our students as students but we need to remember that they too live and learn in the real world. The more we connect projects to the real world, the more passionate students will be and the harder they will work. Finally, we need to keep in mind that new contexts will encourage the project approach.

2.    Discussion on the overall benefits of the PBL approach.

The projects become the centerpiece of the curriculum. They are not simply an add-on, so the time put into developing these projects is well worth it. Students engage in real-world activities and practice strategies that will benefit them later in life. They also work together and choose their own topics, so they are more passionate and invested in what they are learning. Technology is integrated into the classroom in many different ways. Students use it for discovery, collaboration, and communication while teachers use it to reach their learning goals in new ways. Collaboration among teachers also increases as they work together to design and implement projects in their classrooms.

3.    Discussion on the benefits to students who participate in PBL.

Students develop good communication skills as well as the ability to work well with others. They also develop good inquiry skills, which lead them to wonder and learn about many other things. Students learn to be flexible with their time while also realizing that others are relying on them. Therefore, they gain a better understanding of how the world works. Finally, they learn that individuals can change the world through the communication with and understanding of others.

4.    Discussion on what issues need to be considered in PBL approach.

Teachers first need to consider their learning goals. We need rethink our expectations for our students in a project-based learning environment. We also need to rethink the way we interact with our students. Project-based learning takes the focus away from the teacher, which will change how we talk to our students. We also need to be ready to give our students more freedom, they have to learn to manage their own assignments. We will need to reevaluate how to assess our students throughout the learning process and how that relates to what we collect from them. These changes will also affect how we communicate with parents and colleagues. We will need to be ready to explain our reasoning for using project-based learning. Finally, we will need to consider the physical arrangement of our classroom, it needs to encourage teamwork and collaboration.

5.     Discussion on New Technology High as an example of New Technology Model.

The book stated that at New Technology High, “Collaboration is a given for both students and teachers”. I think this statement does a great job of summing up what project-based learning is all about. In a typical classroom, students depend on the teachers feeding them information. There is no collaboration among the students and teachers, and the students rarely get the change to work together. However, at New Technology High students think critically, work as a part of a team, and use technology to help them solve problems. It only makes sense that the learning would be more personalized and therefore more meaningful. I also love the fact that the projects are based on real-world learning, something that is very beneficial to students becoming adults. Finally, I liked that technology is widely available but not the main focus. Students aren’t simply learning about technology, they are using technology as a tool to solve much larger problems.