Reading Reflection 5

As we have learned in previous chapters there is a lot to consider before starting a project with students. Teachers must considered the big ideas that they want their students to explore. Teachers must connect these big ideas to the standards they wish to meet and should be able to envision how the project is going to unfold. Before teachers ever engage students in project work they must invest their time wisely on the "front-loaded" part of design. In order to make the best use of instructional time teachers must look at all the important topics prior to starting the project. All of these things will "maximize learning potential."

When preparing a project it is important to gather resources that will be needed. This can start with what materials you will need. First make sure to see which of these materials are available at school or offered by the community. Next teachers need to figure out what technologies they will be using and familiarize themselves with it. Plan for the introduction of unfamiliar tools to the students. Always be thinking about who else can help you with your project like parents or experts.

Chapter 5 talks about teaching students to become effective managers of their own time. This will help them throughout their education. This can be done with a simple project calender or more high tech methods. With larger projects that are going to take a few weeks chunk the project into smaller pieces and make students aware of the smaller deadlines.

Today's technology should play an important roll in projects in order for students to build 21st century skills. Technology can also be used to asses your students understanding. For teachers to manage a project effectively they need to be aware of the technology and tools needed. Teachers also need methods for getting resources to students and must support a productive learning environment. Students must manage their time, manage their materials, collaborate with others.

This chapter relates to our topic because we must be conscious of all of these things from beginning to end while engaged in our projects. We have been familiarizing ourselves with all of the technology we will be using during the planning of our projects and have spoken with experts on this technology. As a class we have been learning to manage our time and get smaller projects done according to deadlines in order to finish a larger project.