Blog Assignment #6

I was able to learn a lot for the videos between Dr. Strange and Anthony Capps.  During Project Based Learning Part 1 and Project Based Learning Part 2 I learned what it means to use a project in order to teach instead of review.  When using Project Based Learning there are goals to meet in order for your students to receive the most information possible.  These goals are;

• Authentic Audience
• Student Interest
• Community Involvement
• Content Driven

It is also important not to limit your students' creativity.  As a teacher, you need to create the opportunity for your students to go further in their projects.  With Project Based Learning everything is meaningful.

Two of the tools discussed by Anthony Capps are iCurio and Discovery Education.  iCurio is a safe search engine for students in all grades.  Students are also able to store the information they have found.  This helps to teach students organization skills.  A students can also search by criteria in a directory fashion.  Discovery Ed is a science and social studies search engine that offers text and visual aids.

The Anthony- Strange list of Tips for Teachers Part 1 offers an insight to what qualities a teacher must possess.

• Interest in learning
• Hard work can be fun, if you let it
• You must be flexible and creative
• Start your lessons with an end goal
• Strive for 100% student engagement
• Reflect and self- evaluate

Anthony Capps describes teaching technology as scaffolding in Don't Teach Tech- Use It.  As teachers, we need to focus on one type of technology at a time and then build on that knowledge.  Scaffolding is also mentioned in Additional Thought About Lessons to organize your lessons.  Successful lessons start the these four components acting as "Russian dolls";

• Year
• Unit
• Weekly scale
• Daily lessons