I chose to watch the video, Project-Based Learning in Maine, because as a college student who is used to each student having their own laptop and using it in class, I thought the idea of starting this practice in early grades would be very beneficial to students. I also saw this video as important because there is many problems that I see that go along with group projects, and I wanted to see how to get past certain issues with them. The video was very interesting and seemed to be very effective for students learning! Working on these projects are teaching students critical thinking skills. Instead of students working with one specific question and one specific answer, they are able to create their own solutions!
To use this technology in my classroom, I think the most important skill I would need would be being able to keep students on task and make sure groups are working together well. I would also need to make sure the projects that students were working on were engaging them in higher thinking and learning. It would not be beneficial for students to stare at a computer screen all day playing learning games. The activities and projects need to engage my students!
As a teacher, I believe that even after we graduate from college our learning is never actually finished. It is imperative that educators are always finding new strategies for teaching to keep children engaged in their learning! A great way to do this is by communicating with other teachers to see what works best for them. I could also find helpful lesson plans by searching online through many of the resources I have found from my CEP class! I would need to find interactive lessons and group projects to teach with the use of laptops.
http://www.edutopia.org/stw-maine-pbl
To use this technology in my classroom, I think the most important skill I would need would be being able to keep students on task and make sure groups are working together well. I would also need to make sure the projects that students were working on were engaging them in higher thinking and learning. It would not be beneficial for students to stare at a computer screen all day playing learning games. The activities and projects need to engage my students!
As a teacher, I believe that even after we graduate from college our learning is never actually finished. It is imperative that educators are always finding new strategies for teaching to keep children engaged in their learning! A great way to do this is by communicating with other teachers to see what works best for them. I could also find helpful lesson plans by searching online through many of the resources I have found from my CEP class! I would need to find interactive lessons and group projects to teach with the use of laptops.
http://www.edutopia.org/stw-maine-pbl