Reading Reflection #11

1. What occurs as a result of using the Project-Based Learning approach:

When students (and teachers) are first introduced to project-based learning, it is often a major adjustment in the way of learning, teaching, and working with others. However, using the project-based learning approach offers numerous life skills that students will develop when working with their peers. Students are able to better critique their own work, think back on their project and recall what they learned. Teachers can also look back and think about the most engaging learning activities - what seemed to really "grab" the students' attention? As a result of project-based learning, teachers are able to see how activities from one project could be useful in another project, or even notice how students become particularly engaged in a subject when they have a chance to examine actual artifacts and real-life situations. We may see a transformation in students after taking a project-based learning approach, as if they have matured and "grown up" once having learned how to work with and communicate with their peers at a "professional" level.

2. Ways to "bring your project home:"

• Critique your work: Plan a "project debrief" with the project planning team to discuss the project elements after the project has been completed. Use this opportunity to draw out each others' best ideas for improvement, using whatever communication tools you found useful during the project.
• Share your insights: 
• Share your project idea with an existing network where teachers turn for inspiration, good ideas, and ongoing projects they can join.
• Create a project library within your school where you can archive project plans.
• Turn your project into an archive on the Web, including student work samples and teacher reflections.
• Publish your project to share examples of well-conceived projects, including both your completed work as well as reflections about what made the project successful.
• Become a resource for your colleagues: Consider turning your experience into a professional development opportunity for your colleagues by sharing what you have learned in the course of designing and leading a digital-age project. Help colleagues gain new insights into project-based learning.
• Enter a contest: Gain exposure for your project, as well as your students, by putting your best work forward. This maybe help raise the profile of what you are doing in your classroom, bringing awareness to the community and other school districts. By publicly submitting your work, you may get an opportunity to receive critical feedback from colleagues who share a passion for authentic projects.

3. How concepts in this chapter relate to our topic/project:

Once we have finished our classroom dinner project, after the cookbooks are made and the dinner has been prepared and served, we don't want our students going home and forgetting everything we've just learned. In addition, we as future teachers should document this project. Whether the project has been successful or not, we should seek out critical feedback and review our planning strategies with each other to see what worked and what could have been done differently.