Expanding Your Circle

Building Connections and Branching Out: Digital tools are important for students to connect and share ideas with others who may be geographically distant from their school. To make the most of this experience, there must be a database of experts in the required field of study who are willing to offer their expertise. This database would include experts from other schools, colleges and universities, parents of some of my students, etc… Furthermore, students would have the opportunity to practice interacting via digital tools through simulations within the class. This would provide the opportunity for students to become more familiar with the process and with asking questions. Therefore, when the students are allowed to interact with the experts, they will make the most effective use of their time as well as our experts’ time. The Flat Classroom Project was another example of using digital tools to connect and share ideas. My students would have had the same reaction as Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis’ students. In my past experiences as an educator, I have found that students go the extra mile, and they take a great deal of pride in their work when they know that others are observing them for doing something positive. The EAST Initiative Model is another example of using digital tools within the classroom. This model is built on the following essential ideas: student-driven learning, authentic project-based learning, technology as tools, and collaboration. If these ideas were incorporated into our current learning environment, these ideas would have an impact on the student learning experience. Students should take more of an active role in their learning experience. Students should able to take a hands-on approach in attempting to address a problem that is in their community. Again, in my past teaching experiences, I have found that students are more motivated when they understand why they are doing a specific task, how they will accomplish the task, and how the completion of the task will benefit them.

Making Assessment Meaningful: Though Elise Mueller says that it’s better to be a producer, my past students have more than likely been more familiar with being consumers. With today’s current educational system, it is important to allow students to lead. They must take a more active role in their education experience. Therefore, my future students will become producers. Each student learns at different rates, and they will travel at different speeds along the journey of education. The measure of the distance each student travels as a learner may be viewed through project-based learning in which a project may be assigned that tests students’ knowledge on specific learning goals. Furthermore, this progress can be determined through observations of students during the class. The conversation during group assignments may have transformed since a prior point in time. Students who didn’t have much to say may speak out a little more now because they are more comfortable with the material. Various assessments may be given to determine individual gains of each student.

Boss, S. & Kraus, J. (2007). Reinventing Project-Based Learning. International Society for Technology in Education. pp. 127-145.