Blog Assignment #6

What do you learn from these conversations with Anthony Capps?

1. Project Based Learning Part 1: Experience of a Third Grade Teacher

A teacher is to use Project Based Learning to allow students to earn their own learning. A goal of a good project is to have an audience, student interests, involves the community, and using content that is driven towards the students best interest. An example that Anthony Capps used is allowing his students to write letters to their congressman about information that the students researched. The most crucial part about using Project Based Learning is revision.

2. Project Based Learning Part 2: Experience of a Third Grade Teacher

In Project Based Learning the teacher should make opportunities for students to go above and beyond the expectations of what was expected of them in a project because they are interested in the information that they are learning. Success in Project Based Learning is that someone was able to learn from the information that they are discovering by researching for it and doing projects for it  themselves. Student choice is a major factor that allows students to learn in Project Based Learning.

3.iCurio

iCurio allows students to look online for information that are for educational uses, allows storage of the information, and historical features. Students can look up historical figures through iCurio because it serves as a directory. iCurio also has a read-aloud component that will read the text to students if needed.

4. Discovery Education

Discovery Education gives videos of information so that texts can be brought to life to help students learn. Discovery Education is used in teaching in Baldwin County.

5. The Anthony-Strange List of Tips for Teachers Part 1

Teachers must be learners because you must always learn new things. Teaching is hard work but if you put your time into it it will be fun. Teachers are to be flexible and creative. Engaging students is a critical element in teaching by using content that motivates the students to learn. Reflection of teaching helps better teachers and students in making them better learners together.

6. Don't Teach Tech- Use It

Technology should be a part of your lessons and should not be taught. Using scaffolding allows students to build on their technology  that they are using and then gets them able to combine what they are learning. Do not expect perfection when allowing students to use technology. Using technology helps students use problem-solving and gets them to learn and ask questions.

7. Additional Thoughts about Lessons

A lesson is at least four layers thick. The lesson needs to be able to fit in the year by being able to cover all of the standards that are needed to be covered. Units should be scaffolding and breaking up information. Weekly lessons should be a breakdown of the information from the unit. Daily work is how you deliver content to you students and being able to figure out where to pick up the next day.