A few ways to build connections and branch out beyond the classroom include having projects that include research that must be done by interviewing and adult outside of the classroom. This will get students involved with the community. Also, you can have students talk with experts about particular topics. Having guest speakers in your classroom will help to get students excited about a topic because it will be someone new and different, and to get students engaged. Another fun thing to do is to connect with other classes in other districts and to send project results and messages to the other classes, and vice versa.
The EAST Initiative Model stands for Environmental and Spatial Technologies. This deals with solving problems and improving their community. The EAST model is built on four essential ideas which are student learning, authentic project based learning, technology as tools, and collaboration. Student driven learning refers to students needing to be responsible for their own learning. Authentic project based learning means that students should be engaged to solving real problems in their communities. Using technology for tools means that students need access to the relevant technologies that professionals use to solve real problems. Collaboration is when students collaborate in teams to pursue authentic projects, and they accomplish more than any one person can do in isolation. Teachers must let their students lead their projects.
Students need no be able to lead their own projects because they will gain more skills, knowledge, and confidence. Teachers do not have to micromanage every project. The teacher will be there to support students when they need it, but the students will have a lot more say in their project and will therefore be much more interested.
This topic related to our topic in several different ways. One way is that our students will be communicating with another classroom and will be branching out beyond our classroom. Another way is that our students will be hosting an event for the community to taste different foods and to sell cookbooks with international recipes inside. Our students will be thinking outside of the box for our project.
I agree that students need to be able to lead their own projects. It gives them confidence and allows that to gain more skills.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you talked about building connections and branching out of the classroom. I liked how you talked about the EAST Model. This chapter related to our topic and I'm glad you mentioned that. Good Job!
ReplyDeleteI like how you talked about the fact that students need to lead their own projects in order to be self sufficient and gain confidence. I couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteI like how you mentioned that students need to be able to lead their own projects, I feel that this is a very important skill students need to learn. I also like how you explained the EAST model and touched on building connections and branching outside of the classroom environment.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about students having a greater interest in the project, when it is created from their own ideas. Also, the guest speaker is great idea!
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