Blog Post #5

The central message expressed by Anthony Capps in this Video was the importance of Project Based Learning being used as a means of learning and not just as a tool by which learning is measured. After watching ”Project Based Learning Part 1” I learned of the change in the way project based learning is interpreted among educators. In the past, PBL was used at the end of a lesson as a way to measure whether or not a student met the learning objectives. Presently, PBL is a method used to aid students in the learning process. I love the way that Anthony incorporates project based learning into his daily instruction and it seems that students enjoy hands on activities which increases the urge to learn. The project that Anthony initiated that involved his students writing to Congressman Joe Bonnor was very interesting. It allowed students to express their personal opinions about a certain topic and allowed for the incorporation of peer editing. Even though only a certain amount of letters were actually sent off, peer editing and revising allowed all students to feel like they were represented. Overall, I feel that EDM310 really gives us as teachers an advantage over those who may not have had such a requirement to fulfill before they graduate. Project Based Learning is a very important part of education in the 21st century and I will incorporate it in many ways when I become a classroom teacher.

In ”Project Based Learning Part 2” Anthony discussed other projects in which his class participated. He also stressed the importance of not having restrictive instructions, this allows students to be more creative and usually results in projects that are more detailed than what a teacher originally expects. Another important issue in this video was what a teacher can do when a parent has an issue with a particular assignment. We as educators have to understand that no two families raise their children alike and that in certain cases precautions should be taken to ensure that all parties feel comfortable. Allowing the option of an alternative project was an excellent solution.

In video 3 ”iCurio” we are given an introduction to iCurio and ways in which it can be used. It is basically a search engine that provides age appropriate audio, text, and pictures that have been filtered specifically for educational purposes. Students and teachers can also store content within iCurio. I think this is a wonderful resource it allows students access to information they need within the risks associated with random internet searches.

It is evident that Anthony Capps is a big fan of Discovery Ed. He explained the benefits of this tool in ”Discovery Education”. He believes that students retain more information when they have visuals and audio coupled with the information to which they are being introduced.

” The Anthony - Strange list of Tips for Teachers Part 1” is somewhat of a blueprint for first year classroom teachers. Anthony and Dr. Strange provide a view example of how to make year 1 easier. First, it is important for a teacher to have a love of learning. Second, work should be fun! If you love what you do, you tend to become better at doing those things. Third, teachers should know that things will change frequently and should be able to effectively adapt to those changes. In other words, be flexible! Last but certainly not least, allow time for reflection. It is a very important step in the learning process and should be incorporated into as many projects as possible.

Technology is all around us and there is no way to ignore its prevalence. In ”Don't Teach Technology, Use It!” Anthony describes how important it is to incorporate the use of technology into the curriculum rather than just teaching it. It is a great motivation tool and students are able to gain hands on experience rather than just hearing about the potential benefits. We as teachers can also aid in the process by completing the activities before hand so that we better understand how to respond to questions a student may have.

In ”Additional Thought About Lessons” Anthony gives us his interpretation of a lesson which he says includes 4 components year, unit, week and daily. On each level standards should be incorporated and they all work together to complete a common goal.