Blog Post 9

When I read Seven Essentials for Project Based Learning it reminded me of being in high school and doing projects. However, a statement stuck out to me, "A project is meaningful if it fulfills two criteria. First, students must perceive the work as personally meaningful, as a task that matters and that they want to do well. Second, a meaningful project fulfills an educational purpose. Well-designed and well-implemented project-based learning is meaningful in both ways." That basically means that the students need to be interested in the project they are doing. The students will retain more information if they are interested in the topic. Students need to be able to explore and have no limits.

In the video, Project Based Learning For Teachers it explains how project based learning works and what it is. Project based learning engages students. "It has students working over a period of time answering a driving question, which is deep and requires students to complete an end product to share their learning with others." Project Based Learning allows students to take charge of their learning and allows the to have the "voice and choice". The students feel like they have a purpose and it makes learning meaningful and memorable. While meeting certain standards, students are still learning: collaborative skills, communication skills, critical thinking skills, and career and life skills. Technology is involved in this learning process.

What Motivates Students:
-Teachers acknowledging students work
-Do well in school
-Making good grades
-Parents
-Extracurricular activities
Rewards such as:
-Candy
-Being able to go outside
-Brownie points

By watching and reading The two Students Solve the Case of the Watery Ketchup by Designing a New Cap it showed how project based learning works. The two students were inspired because they simply do not like runny, wet ketchup. One of the students said, "Wet bread is gross". Since the two students were inspired and wanted to fix the problem they came up with a solution. They worked together to create a new cap. They sketched for weeks and then designed the cap and put it into effect and it worked. It is amazing what students can do if they are engaged on the project.

The video below, Tour the States, is a great example of project based learning. The students were learning and having fun at the same time. The students learned the capitals of the states of the United States of America, while learning where they are located. They also drew pictures on each cut out of the states that go a long with the state. This is a great way to engage students and help them learn. The teachers did a great job in this video and the students look happy and like they are having a blast.