Imagine the Possibilities Ch 3

1. Finding the “Big Idea” in a project involves focusing on what core concepts and processes you want your students to know and be able to apply. It is important to find out what the curriculum standards add up to. What is it that the students are supposed to gain from the curriculum and then find a project that really spikes the student’s interests, relates to their lives, and puts an emphasis on the big ideas?

2. 21^st century skills are skills, attitudes, and habits necessary for students to be successful in the ever growing and changing world. Students should be asked to analyze, evaluate, and create during project-based learning activities.

3. 21^st century literacy focuses on helping the students to become independent citizens, productive, and aware things happening in the world, how things could change or improve, and how to go about making those changes happen. It’s not about teaching students information, it’s about helping students develop the skills to learn wherever they are, and whenever they would like.

4. There are several functions that are essential for learning. It is important to give student the skills, access, and knowledge to learn anytime, anywhere. Students should also experience deep learning. Deep learning involves students being able to analyze and interpret raw data, rather than information being spoon-fed to them in one specific way. Another learning function is making data visible and discussable. This involves incorporating pictures, multimedia, and graphical representation to get students thinking and learning about what they are learning.  It is important for students to be able express themselves through blogs, social software and virtual meetings. Students should be able to collaborate with one another, and learn to respectfully agree and disagree with one another. Students need to develop skills in order to research and determine what information is legit. Students need to develop project management skills and be able to plan and organize. Students must be able to reflect on their own work and determine how they could improve.

5. Concepts in this chapter relate to our project because we need to teach our students the necessary skills to think on their feet and adapt to changes. Students need to be able to decide what went wrong if a recipe doesn’t turn out and how they can improve or make it better.