Reading Reflection 8

1. Description of some ways to build connections and branch out beyond the classroom.

Digital tools make it easy for students to share their work and exchange ideas with diverse audiences. These audiences include their family, peers, local community, and many areas of the world. Projects using technology help the students to reach out to an audience and by knowing that someone is viewing their work it motivates them. As well as connecting the students to audiences digital projects offer unlimited opportunities for branching out. Some ways the students can branch out is to consult with experts in the area, the students can communicate with fellow learners from in the school or half way around the world, this gives the children a more culturally diverse working environment. There are many ways for students to branch out and build connections and teachers can assist in this process by providing many opportunities for outside connections.

2. Description of the EAST Initiative Model.

The Environmental and Spatial Technologies Initiative network of schools helps to demonstrate the benefits of technology for a real purpose of solving problems and improving their community. The East Model is built on four essential ideas including student driven learning, authentic project based learning, technology as tools, and collaboration. These are all essential ideas for the students but the teacher is also impacted in this model as they take on the new title of a facilitator.

3. Discussion on some reasons to let students “lead” their projects.

As teachers we want to teach our students but in some cases they are capable of leading their project and take the initiative to do more. We need to take a step back and let the students lead their own learning. This allows students to generate their own ideas and begin a project that they are passionate about so that they will have more of a drive to do more. When students lead their own projects they take on more responsibility and it shows them that their ideas are valued and that their opinions matter. As teachers we need to loosen up on the reins and allow the students the freedom to show us how accomplished they are. In these projects I can guide the students and give them the tools they need to set them off on their journey of self-lead projects.  

4. Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

In our project based learning assignment we are having the students research the food choices and availability in other cultures. To do this they will be communicating with other culturally diverse classrooms from around the world and while gaining information they will also be building connections and branching out. As well the students will be using many of the ideas in the EAST Initiative Model such as the use of technology, collaboration, student driven learning, and the teacher as the facilitator. We will be asking things of the students and directing the learning but much of the actual research and ideas will come from the students such as what area they will study, what food they will decide to make from their area, and how they will present this information at family night.