Blog Post 9

What can teachers and students teach us about project based learning?

     This question was presented with a lot of resources to try and discover the answer. The first the resources were a journal entry, "Seven Essentials for Project Based Learning", and a YouTube video, "Project Based Learning for Teachers." The first site introduced the idea that there are "steps" that should be followed when creating and implementing a new project for the classroom. Project based learning is started off with creating a need to know and followed up with a driving question for the students. In the classroom example given, it is an option to present your class with a video and a question that gets them excited about finding out an answer. Upon viewing the introductory video they can then share their voice and present options on the direction they want to take their project. Having the opportunity to use project based learning will also implement students' 21st century skills and share new innovations. As a teacher it is important to keep them focused and on track, to do this teachers should provide feedback and at times revise what work is being done. Lastly, students should have a reason to want to do well and do great work. A motivating factor that is needed is to inform students that their work will be presented publicly. Knowing that they will have to present in front of different groups will give them drive to want to do their best.
     Project based learning can be used in many academic areas including the physical side of education. The second two resources that I used to try and find the answer were "Project Based Learning in Physical Education", and "Project Based Learning in PE." It was really interesting seeing how projects can be brought into classrooms that don't have desks or white boards and don't normally utilize technology. In these two blogs the project was the same and it entailed having high school PE students creating fitness programs that would best benefit middle school PE students. The students had to research a lot of areas of fitness and talk to the middle school kids and see what interested them. This is very insightful to me since this is the direction I see myself going in with my teaching. From these resources I learned that you don't have to have a traditional classroom setting in order to provide your students with an opportunity to use project based learning.
     In the last resource that I viewed, "What motivates students?", I learned from students what drives them to want to succeed. I was very surprised that when most of them answered what their motivation was that it was so future and career driven. I expected maybe to hear that they wanted to make a good grade in their class or that they were promised a reward from their parent but to hear about how much they care about their future was amazing. I think that by viewing this video that it is important to think about how teachers should really take the time to know their students on a one on one level and really inspire them. Motivation is definitely key to success in any aspect and I think that by giving students the drive to learn is the best way that we can help them.
     So, overall I think the ultimate answer to the above question is that teachers and students can help us in a multitude of ways and the main way is just by sharing insight.