#8 Reflection

            Digital tools of the 21^st century aid students in expanding connections and learning outside the classroom.  A way of doing this is having them create an online digital story.  Through this they can branch out from the classroom, for they may want to consult experts on their topic, or they may want to communicate or collaborate with other learners from across the globe, which will result in being and working in a culturally diverse world.  When your students learn in new ways and expand in new directions you know they are gaining new knowledge.  When students are able to interview experts they are getting personal responses and experiences with the interview process.  Also, by giving students opportunities to get involved, meet and talk to experts will get them so interested and excited about the topic and to learn more.  But it is our job, as teachers to provide and set up meetings with experts.

            Environmental and spatial technologies (East) initiative network of schools have been demonstrating the benefits of using technology for a real purpose.  This means to improve or make a difference in their community.  East initiative started in Arkansas in 1996 and is now over 260 schools in 7 states, even the government has gotten involved.  In 2001 it became a non-profit organization.  The east model is built on four essential ideas:

1. Student-driven learning: students need to be responsible for their own learning.
2. Authentic project-based learning: students should be engaged in their communities.
3. Technology as tools: students need to access to the relevant technologies that professionals use to solve real problems.
4. Collaboration: when students collaborate projects, they accomplish more than any one person can do in isolation.

When teachers join East they become facilitators and their classroom roles change.  They must also let students take the lead when it comes to learning about technology.  There is also a 3 weeklong ongoing professional development for the facilitators in training.

            As teachers become more comfortable with the project approach, they will find students more capable of leading their projects.  Once students can grasp a topic, learn about it, relate to it and are given appropriate technological devices, they from there can take it into their own hands and provide a successful project.