Reading Reflection 3

When starting a project the big idea should consider the framework of core concepts and processes.  If you only use a standard curriculum with typical results, learners can stagnate, and so can teachers.  Thinking of the big idea can be creative and should help you reach where you want to go. 

The question that came to my mind, is if these curriculum's and textbooks are boring and rigid, why are we using them in the first place?  I think as teaching gets more test/result driven there is a tendency to stick to the curriculum in a rigid fashion.  It takes effort and energy to think of a project, but it is worth it in terms of real world knowledge etc.  

The 21st Century skills are higher order thinking skills such as analysis , evaluation, and creativity.  The 21st Century literacy skills are inventive thinking, self direction, curiosity, creativity and risk taking, communication and productivity.  There is the boring biography assignment, and then there is the more creative biography assignment.  Literacy as the authors define it is,"Learning to be independent, aware, and productive citizens" (p. 49).  And they also mention the importance of authentic projects involving digital resources.  

The essential learning functions, 1.  Learning constantly in and out of the classroom with technology available.  2.  deeper learning and the importance of primary sources and information that isn't filtered but raw.  3.  Emphasis on show me don't tell me and using technological tools to do this  4.  Expression, sharing and building community.  Although on this one I have mixed feelings.  So many people are "tuned in"  to their IPODS and phones and the web that face to face interactions sometimes feel scarce.  If students feel they can isolate and just do everything online I question if that is healthy and useful?  5.  collaboration, working together can be a good thing.  6.  research and teaching your students to use quality sources, tagging tools and citation engines can keep them from being overwhelmed by 49 million results to a one word search.  It may also help to know how to think like a librarian and how to narrow a search from the beginning.  7.  planning, organizing, and managing a project makes it easier to complete tasks.  8.  Reflection and Iteration, considering other points of view via a blog etc.  will be useful.  

For our gardening project, our big idea will be gardening for a farmer's market and comparing a school  in Michigan and one in Chile.  As we move through the development process we need to make use of technology and various resources and work together to plan and manage and then reflect.