Blog Week 6 - Project Launch & Guiding Hands

Project Launch \A Guiding hand-
Since I have not been in the classroom, I don't have any direct experience with developing rubrics for students. However in theory, I would utilize criteria bases on the SCANS identified for the lesson or project. I do believe that it would be a good idea to allow the students to have some input on what they should be evaluated on just to give them a sense of ownership of their work. In an approach to generate creativity I believe that postponing a K-W-L (Know, Wonder, and Learn) process would be the right step to take. I believe the K-W-L session would limit their ideas and steer them towards searching deeper into the known instead of discovery of something new. In building students' foundations skills so that they can be successful with project my approach would be to have students complete self assessments and allow them to group according to the results of their assessments so that their groups are dynamic. I would also teach them the core of project management, which will include identification of roles and responsibilities, time management, identifying the scope of their task so they that remain focused. I would also allow them to use technology to measure and document their progress though tools like Excel, Access, and Word. The students will be allowed to seek external resources for research purposes. I would also have project meetings, which would allow students to address progress, issues and concerns that occur during the course of their project execution.
“The Art of Teaching” – The art of teaching means that teaching is an art form with a set of basic guidelines and principles established, but utilizing creativity to achieve the goal of transiting information to the learner. The art of teaching includes a dynamic portfolio of tools to be used in the learning experience and “the art” means having the ability to effectively use current tools while integrating the latest and greatest. Strategies that I would use to make classroom discourse more productive would be to integrate the issues and concerns in a format for students to develop ideas to resolve their own issues. This session could be a rap session to discuss possible risks to the project due to discourse. In student to student dialogue I learn what they value most as well as observe their responses to each other. To see them engage in conversation reveals their level of commitment to learning the material. To ensure that students are comfortable in sharing their challenges or setbacks I would establish an environment that is non-critical, but own that is sharing in looking for ways and opportunities to improve the project or current situation. I would make it an inclusive session so that they help collaboration as consultants for the projects as it would occur in a real world situation.