This week's readings had a lot to do with problem solving and the problem solving approach. There was also a reading on "How are students reaching 21st century goals?" Since we ended up talking a lot about problem solving in class last week, I wanted to touch more on it for my weekly investment.
Our reading focused on Projects vs. Project Based Learning. I found this very interesting because I can recall many times in high school and college where I have been giving a project that contributed little to nothing to what I was learning. However, I can only recall a handful of times where I was given a project that was beneficial to my learning. It is easy to fall into the hole where you give students projects to break up lecture, but are they really learning from it? Project based learning is when students learn the material from completing the project. The project requires critical thinking that revolves around an open ended question, allows student voice, and includes processes for reflection and revision.
When we are using projects in the classroom to help teach students versus teaching students to help them complete the project, I think they get a lot more value out of it. I am not saying that you are not teaching them some of the material, but you may not be teaching them all of the material - and may the project helps them to connect the dots of what they have been learning.
We also talk about the 4 C's in class last week: Communication, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Creativity. I found an article from Oxford University Press about how these 4 C's prepare students for the 21st century. Although, the article is geared towards English classrooms, I think it lays out 5 good steps to help in any classrooms.
These 5 steps are:
1. Let your students lead the learning.
2. Create an inquiry-based classroom environment.
3. Encourage collaboration.
4. Develop critical thinking skills.
5. Encourage creativity.
In summary, students learn best when they are empowered and if you have empowered them to lead the classroom they need to be able to ask questions. A classroom that promotes sharing, is simultaneously promoting speaking and listening skills. When we are taking students beyond comprehension and challenging them with real world problems we are developing their critical thinking skills. And finally, students need to be able to express what they have learned in a creative way.
Hmmm..... this all sounds a lot like the 3 circle model in action. ????
References
ELT, O.U. (2013, October 9). 5 Ways to prepare your students for the 21st Century. Retrieved October 1, 2017, from https://oupeltglobalblog.com/2013/10/09/5-ways-to-prepare-your-students-for-the-21st-century/
Larmer, J. & Mergendoller, J.R. (2010). The main course, not dessert: How are students reaching 21st century goals? With 21stcentury project based learning. Retrieved from http://bie.org/object/document/main_course_not_dessert
Thanks for sharing. Great connection between project-based learning and the article that you described.
ReplyDeleteKarlie, thanks for including the great article on the 4 C's! What are some ideas that you have for how you can successfully incorporate both problems and PBL into your classroom? Glad to see that you recognize the importance of empowering students to lead!
ReplyDeleteActually, for my soils unit that I am working on, their unit assessment is a Land Use Project. Where they will take what they have learned and the use of Web Soil Survey, and apply it to an area of interest - then they need to explain what the land is being used for, if its being used properly, and what it could/should be being used for. When I completed this project, I learned so much about Web Soil Survey and land capabilities without even knowing it!
DeleteKarlie, during my time at the Natural Resources and Ecology CASE Institute, we talked about project-based and problem-based learning, as CASE has both. In many units, students are tasked with a project to create something, with a problem in mind to apply it to. I really thought this was a great way to maintain relevance and create meaningful curriculum.
ReplyDeleteYou have hit a home run with your thoughts in this blog! Everything you do in your classroom needs to be relevant to the learning outcomes. If you have not done so already, check out the new SAE for ALL model that The National Council for Agriculture Education has just released (https://www.ffa.org/thecouncil). It will affirm your thoughts about project based learning and how it fits into our 3-circle model.
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff! You have some great insights here about the value and role that projects/labs/activities should play in the classroom. I'm glad to see you're thinking of ag courses as more than just "Sunday School for FFA" (as my former principal described the work of one of my predecessors) and are actively thinking about the rigor and relevance of applied learning. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone!
ReplyDeleteKarlie, I think your interest in soil science is great! We believe that being able to identify where your food comes from should be a 21st century skill but I also feel that portraying the importance of soil is crucial. What better way to get kids hands "dirty" than to dive in with a problem solving approach!
ReplyDelete