Blog Post 11

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

1) TedXDenverEd-Brian Crosby-Back to the Future

Brian Crosby shows that disadvantaged students can still achieve success in this TedX Talk. These students can actively be engaged in learning through the use of technology. Each student has a laptop and blog that they use regularly to connect with others around the world. Crosby also uses Project Based Learning and partners with others to create projects such as the Balloon in space project. The students were excited about this project, and they also were able to learn.

2) Blended Online Learning

Paul Andersen explains that Blended Learning merges the aspects of Online Learning, Mobile Learning, and Classroom Learning together into one. The Learning Cycle is a wheel of the five "E"'s: Engage, Explore, Expand, Explain, and the center "E", Evaluate. Blended Learning together with the Learning Cycle creates Blended Online Learning. In Andersen's science class, Blended Online Learning follows six steps:
1. Question
2. Investigation/Inquiry
3. Video
4. Elaboration
5. Review
6. Summary Quiz
The acronym for these steps is "QuIVERS." Andersen also stresses the importance of the question and says that the entire lesson should be built upon it.

3) Mark Church Demonstrating the "Headlines" Routine

In Marc Church's "Headlines" teaching activity, he has his students watch an introductory video about their upcoming lesson. Then he asks students to brainstorm together in their groups to create a headline for it. Students can create a headline again at the end of the lesson to reflect on what they have learned. This strategy works well with Project Based Learning.

4) Super Digital Citizen

In Sam Pane's classroom, he teaches students about internet safety through the idea of being a "Super Digital Citizen." The class created Super Digital Citizen superheroes and used the characters in real-world situational narratives. The students did this by creating comic books about their superhero helping them in a internet safety situation. At the end they were able to view their classmates' work and discuss it.

5) Project Based Learning

Dean Shareski's montage of Canadian teachers using Project Based Learning describes the journey of combining English, History, and Technology into one subject. At first there were many unforeseen problems with PBL, and the teachers realized it could not work in a typical schoolday setting. Now the teachers prefer this structure and the students are able to participate in Project Based Learning Assignments with their classmates.

6) Roosevelt Elementary's PBL Program

In this video, Roosevelt Elementary defines Project Based Learning and explains its benefits. These include the importance of technology and real-world application in 21st century learning. Project Based Learning also allows students to work individually and with others to build social skills that the students need later in life. Students can expand their public speaking skills as well. No students are left out, because teachers use differentiated instruction to attract multiple intelligences in Project Based Learning. Roosevelt says that the students are motivated, engaged, and excited about their learning in Project Based Learning.