Blog Post #11

What can we learn about teaching and learning from these teachers?

Back to the Future
I found this video very encouraging. I have often wondered how difficult it would be to teach children who are second language learners. After watching this video, I believe I will be just as capable teaching second language learners as students who primarily speak English. In the video, Brian Crosby discusses different activities he does with his students. I personally loved the balloon activity. I thought it was a very fun and creative way to teach students about pressure. Mr. Crosby uses Blogger, Wiki, and other online resources in his class to engage his students. They are able to use technology to connect with people all over the world and to improve their language skills at the same time.

Blended Learning Cycle
I had never heard of the Blended Learning Cycle before watching this video. I learned that it takes the compelling parts of online, mobile, and classroom learning to blend them all together in a classroom. Paul Anderson explains Blended Learning Cycle by using the acronym "QUIVER." This stands for question, investigation/inquiry, video, elaboration, review, and summary quiz. Mr. Anderson does a great job incorporating technology into his teaching. I really like the Blending Learning teaching style, and I hope to use it in my classroom someday.

Making Thinking Visible
Mark Church explains how his students create headlines for driving questions in this video. I think this is an interesting way to make students think and enjoy learning. Once the students have researched their topic more in depth, Church asks them if they would change anything about their headlines. It's a great way for teachers to see what their students have learned.

Sam Pane 4th Grade
In this video, Sam Pane's students create digital superheroes who protect the internet from hackers and cyber bullying. I think this is a very fun way to teach internet safety. The students discussed safe and unsafe internet situations with Mr. Pane. Then, they were able to create their superheroes on the computer. It was very obvious how excited the students were about creating their own projects. I definitely want to use this idea to promote internet safety in my classroom.

Project Based Learning
In this video, three different teachers discuss how they have restructured a typical day in their classrooms in order to incorporate Project Based Learning. Rather than going to three different classrooms for three different subjects, the students stay in one classroom all day. One teacher shares that the students are able to bring content to life by using technology. The teachers say that their students learn so much more because they are given more time to teach them. This was a new concept to me, because none of my classes were set up this way. At first, I thought it would never work. After watching the entire video, I see that it is a very interesting and effective teaching style.

Roosevelt Elementary's PBL Program
Throughout EDM310, I have learned so much about Project Based Learning. Roosevelt Elementary is a true testament to what PBL is all about. At Roosevelt Elementary, they teach their students how to become independent learners. They are taught at a young age how to think and speak for themselves. They ar able to collaborate and learn many other social skills that will help them throughout life. I think Project Based Learning is a great way to get students excited about learning. Roosevelt Elementary definitely proves this in the video.