Reading Reflection #8

1. Some ways to build connections and branch out beyond the classroom is to share your experiences and work with colleagues or by posting on a blog. You can have your students do this as well in order for them to connect with the community or the outside world. This way the students are being connected with real people and having real life exchanges with a live audience. 
2. The EAST Initiative Model emphasizes student-driven learning authentic project based learning, technology as tools, and collaboration. It is a program that extends from lower elementary all the way to high school. This program was started 18 years ago and has been a great success. It allows students to be independent and ready for the real world. It also is a great way for teachers to be prepared and ready for what to teacher their students.
3. Reasons to let students "lead" their projects is because the best way to make sure someone understands a concept is to have them teach it to somebody else. The students are incredibly comfortable with their projects and as the project progresses they will become more confident and want to take over the role of explanation on what is going on to the rest of the class. 
4. All of this is relevant to my project because they are all things that I can use in my own classroom. The EAST Initiative Model is a great tool to use for my classroom in order to see the best outcome and allowing students to connect and lead their own project discussions helps them to become independent thinkers and doers in the community.