Connecting STEM, PBL & Technology

This week's reading and video were wonderful in my opinion. The video was especially helpful what the SAMR model is. In my previous district we had a professional development sessions on SAMR, but most of us left the room scratching our heads and wanting to know more! I thought that the video provided an excellent understanding of what it is and how to apply it in the classroom. I also loved that they gave relatable examples of each of the attributes for SAMR: Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. I am a visual learner, so I can relate to exactly what each level looks like. I can take my understandings and relate them and how to apply the SAMR model in my own first grade classroom.

Project Based Learning and technology are both very relatable to the SAMR model in my opinion, because they all work together in harmony. SAMR can easily be aligned with a PBL activity because the top two levels of SAMR are in fact project based learning or encompass most of a PBL activity. If you really think of it, designing an authentic PBL would incorporate all levels of SAMR from the design to the execution.

I feel that the SAMR model provides an excellent platform for PBL, as well as incorporating the rigor and relevance into activities that are at times mundane and not engaging. In a model teaching world, technology, PBL and SAMR are all the pieces of a perfect triangle. Each is equal and carries important value when assessing and understanding how to dig deeper and connect with the demands of teaching and learning today.

References :

Common Sense Media. (n.d.). Introduction to the SAMR model. Retrieved February 19, 2017, retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/videos/introduction-to-the-samr-model

Gorman, M. (2014, September 15). Essential connections of STEM, PBL, and tech integration… What would Dewey think? Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://21centuryedtech.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/essential-connections-of-stem-pbl-and-tech-integration-what-would-dewey-think/

u01a1- Project Based Learning

This week, I had the pleasure of learning about various PBL experiences in other school across the Us and enjoyed seeing what PBL looks like in action. Milton Hershey School has recently put many changes in place to support PBL, and I thought it was wonderful to not only gain ideas, but watch other educators guide and facilitate during the actual learning and exploration. 

I made several connections with each of projects that were showcased. I noticed that all of the projects were student driven, teacher"coached", allowed for failure/reflection and were authentic to the students current role. Students were incredibly engaged and were working to produce a tangible product at the end. I am a first grade teacher, and I especially connected with the first grade projects on worms and butterflies. I loved that these projects, along with the high school project all incorporated technology components and intrinsically motivated students to assume the role as experts but also investigators in their area of study. I think that learning is best achieved when students can take their knowledge and inquiry and apply it, while also discovering new concepts. This to me is Project Based Learning. 

I also noticed that a common theme that I saw in all three projects was real word skill set application. High school students were working on drafting and constructing a new building while incorporating mathematical skills as well as critical thinking (and more of course). First grade students were incorporating writing, science, and fostering personal connections with others. These are all valuable qualities that are viewed as positives when young adults are entering the working world. I think it is fantastic that these students are gaining access to these at such a young age. The exposure enough is wonderful, so imagine what might happen if they continue to build and strengthen these skills until they graduate high school. Students will be MUCH better prepared for the working world without even knowing it! This to me is the jackpot of information acquisition/transfer of information and skills. 

The Buck Institute Gold Standards suggest indicators and components in PBL that make for a successful engaging project. I feel that all three of the projects explored today do meet these standards and would be considered wonderful examples of ideal PBL activities.  This week's reading/videos has really ignited my excitement for PBL. Great choices, Bill!

References:

Armstrong, S. (2002, February 11). Geometry students angle into architecture through project learning. Retrieved January 20, 2017, https://www.edutopia.org/mountlake-terrace-geometry-design.

Curtis, D. (2001, October 1). More fun than a barrel of . . . Worms?! Retrieved January 20, 2017,  https://www.edutopia.org/more-fun-barrel-worms.

Curtis, D. (2002, June 6). March of the Monarchs: Students follow the butterflies migration. Retrieved January 20, 2017, https://www.edutopia.org/march-monarchs.

Institute, B., & Education. (2015, April 21). Gold standard PBL: Essential project design elements. Retrieved January 20, 2017, from: http://www.bie.org/blog/gold_standard_pbl_essential_project_design_elements.

My blog will now transition from EDIM 508 course content to EDIM 502 content. :)  

Thanks for reading!!!!

DE Digital Board

A Screenshot of my DE Digital Board

Link To My Digital Board 

Link : https://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/51FA2F17-9454-3BA9-18CC-44FC644DE34D

     This week, I was given a task to complete a Digital Board using Discovery Education. This was my very first experience using this tool, and I must say that it was a positive experience, indeed. Digital boards are a new concept to me, and I think what made me immediately love them was that everything is in one place! Videos, pictures, etc. were all in the same place, and there was no toggling back and forth. We are currently working in a "small moment" activity in writing that includes our real life experience of visiting the MHS Apple Orchard. Students will use their expeieroncs to author a small moment, or one specific part of the story that was significant to them. I thought that having access to links, videos, clips, and other media sources all in one place was absolutely fantastic. 

    I think that I could easily integrate the use of the DE Board Builder tool into my classroom this year. I think that it would serve the best in the Writing curriculum area(s), because students would be able to craft their own board and would be able to express their opinions, and what is important to their six year old minds. I would especially find this helpful when we are working on our opinion writing unit. Students will be able to use the Board Builder to help express their opinions that will be covered in the six week unit. Students will be able to take ownership and represent their thinking to other classmates. 

   Board Builder in my opinion, is another great tool that will help students understand that we all have different opinions, and express them in different ways. What one student may choose for his Board, another may not choose. This will only help students understand that differences are ok and accepted, which directly ties into our Gardner discussions of respectful and ethical minds.  Exposure for young minds is key to developing correct responses to differing work and opinions. the more exposure our children have to things that aren't within their ways of thinking, the easier it is to understand and embrace them. 

Video Blog- 5 Minds

Below is the link that you will need to view my blog entry for this week:

http://ge.tt/271E0if2

References:

Howard Gardner. Five Minds for the Future. 2007. Harvard Business School Press, Boston MA.

Respectful & Ethical Minds

Respectful & Ethical Minds

Milton Hershey School instills four sacred value into their employees and students, and one of those is "respect."  Students are taught to respect other classmates, houseparents, and teachers on a daily basis with the hope that it becomes intrinsically instilled in them. I am sure that you can imagine how tough this is for  six year old to constantly remember, because for the most part, they are only focused on what is important to them at the current moment. Throughout the discussion  between Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis, the theme of respect continually came up. Ownership of respect, giving respect, and understanding what respect is in a digital world were all major thinking points for us listeners. In my opinion, respect is a major part of the digital world. We are often times viewing others work, sharing, commenting, editing, etc. The previously mentioned digital practice are also something that we see happening in the classroom. Students are often viewing others work, providing feedback, and seeking to understand more. 

In my first grade classroom, we are LOVERS of the app Seesaw. Students are able to create a digital portfolio which can be shared with parents, houseparents, teachers, and other students. One of the things that we are beginning to work on within the app is posting comments. Students are able to "like" another students post by pressing the heart, or they can voice record a comment/type a comment for the student to see. This has provided to be an excellent way to build community in the classroom, understand how to take criticism, and really embrace the growth mindset. We have set up "posting" rules in our classroom, and they are as follows:

1. If you record a comment, it must start off being positive. 

2. If you see a mistake that was made or feel that the student could have done something differently, you can only post it after your positive comment. 

3. You must give suggestions in a kind way, and may not say things such as "not a good job". If something could be better, students must say "next time, why don't you try" or "have you thought of."

I have found that these guidelines help students receive feedback that produces growth as well as understand how to be a kind classmate. As we all know, kindness matters. :)  A sample is attached below (I modeled the comment for the class):

(Photo Credit: SeeSaw: Paid Version via MHS).

My favorite take away thought from  the video was: The aim of global collaboration in education is to improve learning, break down classroom walls, and develop authentic audiences. I feel that our system of commenting in SeeSaw is just one subtle way that we are achieving the above!

SMORE...and Lips The Fish :)

Link to SMORE

What instructional goal/challenge does your SOS address? What additional value does the integration of digital media bring to your idea in terms of students’ understanding of the concept or topic?

SMORE was a very interesting way to access digital media and incorporate learning strategies as well. Reading instruction comes with many challenges and hurdles to overcome. It is such a complex thing to teach students to do, because there are so many different components to teach, along with the "why". Students often discover that reading is a major struggle and also find that it is HARD to keep all of the reading strategies that we learn readily accessible. Applying the knowledge learned is even harder for our younger minds. This year, in my class we have adopted a set of fun reading strategies to help students work through the struggles of reading, and overcoming the hurdles that prevent them from being fluent, successful readers. Since we have just adopted these strategies this year, it is hard to understand the positive or negative impact that they are having on students reading. I can tell you that reading is more fun, exciting, and engaging for students when using these strategies, which in my opinion leads to more engaged and dedicated readers. 

I think that the integration of digital media will not only make reading and using it's strategies more appealing for students, but will also help them establish more of a purpose for what they are doing. We have all agreed that technology and digital media only enhance and increase student engagement as well as promote ownership and understanding of the content being taught. I think that using the SMORE strategy checks all of the boxes above and gives an extra edge to to content being presented to students and other educators. 

Link: https://www.smore.com/udstv