Reflection 7

There are many levels of classroom discussions. The first level is teacher to teacher. Teacher to teacher discussions will range from questions about procedure to questions about assessment. Student to student discussions involves students talking about their learning experiences as they unfold. This is a good way to teach students about team work. Teacher to student discussions are also important. This is a great opportunity to push students towards higher thinking.

Checking in on students is very important. You want to make sure that students are staying on schedule and that team members are getting along. Teachers also want to make sure that students are understanding. To find out what students are thinking about the project teachers should as questions that encourage self-assessment.

Optimizing the use of technology is important in project planning. Teachers need to make sure that their technology choices are helping the students reach their goals. If students are responding positively to the technology then higher levels of learning will take place. Sometimes it can help to ask students what kind of technologies they would like to use. You never know what kind of technologies your students may have prior experiences with that could help the project. You want to make sure the technology is helping the students reach their goals and stay organized and that they have easy access to it.

Trouble shooting and managing conflicts are two 21st century skills that can make or break a project. Both of these topics involve teachers and students overcoming conflicts. Teamwork is also a big part of these skills. When projects connect students teachers have to pay close attention and be sure to keep things running smoothly.

During this chapter we have been working as a group and teamwork has played a very important role. Technology has also been a big part of this project and it all helped with the big picture.