There are so many considerations regarding changes geared toward a project based learning classroom. I really enjoyed the conversation between Abe and Maria about misconceptions. Many teachers have these and being a prospective school librarian, this is a wonderful beginning for motivating them and encouraging them through the ins and outs.
I will begin with the quote from the first grade teacher, Lisa-Helen Shapiro, within the Project Design section of the intel program. Simply, she explains that projects are more difficult, require more planning, and take longer for the students to accomplish than paper and pencil days, but the results are much better. This is where it all starts, because pencil and paper days are much easier and require much less planning and preparation with worksheets. Developing rubrics takes time, reaching out to community helpers takes time, and redeveloping the lesson plan structure also takes time. I am glad that within the context of the conversation between Abe and Maria, Abe says to start small and use what is comfortable, then branch out slowly.
Time is of the essence as well. This is my fifth online learning course, and I have read many complaints about not having enough time to plan, teach, and learn new strategies and technology applications. I enjoy problem solving, so I researched ideas about time management. Most of them say to implement timers. Just like the KWL chart for new and experienced teachers for project based learning that we are given in this module, when planning, a teacher can estimate the time needed, then when beginning the lesson, he or she can set the timer. The teacher can learn more about time management with the timer as a guide. Experience will be gained for the next lesson.
Project based learning is student centered. Many teachers will not like giving up control. This also causes students to fill different roles within the classroom within groups, instead of simply the listener. Some students will need to be leaders, note-takers, etc. That means, the teacher will need to make sure he or she knows her students more, so that tasks can be assigned for groups. Within the groups can assign tasks to their own members, but life skills will need to be taught and learned through that process, so students can know how to deliberate, assign, accept, and follow efficiently when called upon.
Teachers also need to readjust their lessons and reach out to community helpers. Community helpers are also teachers and can be invited into the classroom more often. This also makes the teacher give up control, because she is allowing someone else instruct his or her students more often than in the past.
Last, learning to create better questions that are asked throughout the lesson needs to be practiced and researched. Knowing which questions to ask and when is very important. And, although questions might be planned by the teacher, there are always instances when new ones will arise.
Lots of adjustments to make within my classroom! It has been eight years since I taught, and it was definitely the more traditional, teacher-centered way with very little projects, but here they are! I am most eager to bring in community helpers to talk about and probably help facilitate projects in the classroom, something I never did in the past.