Reflection #4

            When creating a project for your students, there are a few things or pitfalls to watch for.  One pitfall being that your activity should be the same time length as the learning outcome, and should not be shorter.  If this does happen you can easily add on to the project by deciding where they can take the topic to the next level.  Another potential pitfall is the use of too much technology in a project and you should consider allowing students to create unique and high-quality learning products.  Another pitfall to watch for when creating a project for elementary students, you should use multiple themes for a topic rather than looking at your topic in one way the whole time.  Lastly, a potential pitfall in project design, don’t make it too complicated with too many steps, but still have it contain critical thinking.

            Some features of the best projects include: being loosely designed with the possibility of different learning paths, are generative, which cause students to construct meaning, captures students interest through real-life experiences, reaching beyond school to involve others.  Some more features include using rich resources, using 21^st century skills and literacies, which includes communication, project management and technology use, getting important learning dispositions, including persistent risk-taking, confidence, resilience, self-reflection, and cooperation and having students learn by doing.  All of these features are good to keep in mind when designing a project.  There are a lot of different places in which project ideas come from.  Project plans are developed by and for teachers on multiple website resources, from news stories, contemporary issues from students questions or interests.  Also, with one successful project it will most likely lead you to another successful project.

            As an educator we need to know how to design a project.  As we being, we need to take into context the school calendar, curriculum sequence, and student readiness and student interests.  At the beginning of creating a project, you need to list the learning objectives in which your students will be able to do at the end of the project.  You also need to decide which 21^st century skills to be addressed.  Next in the process of designing a project is to establish evidence of understanding and determining what you want your students to learn.  Next, you will want to think about the project theme, which you will want to consider a lot of the features of a good project.  It’s a good idea to get feedback from colleagues of your project so day, and be able to revise your work.  Write a project sketch, not very detailed on what your project contains so far and that is how you get a start on a project.  Although we are creating our own projects in groups together, as it is stated in the textbook we aren’t exactly using what we can to the fullest potential because what we are doing in class is like a “practice project” and we don’t have students or colleagues to communicate with or that will affect our beginning of a project, like the text stated.