PodCast

Hey Ryan and Marissa,
 I went ahead and put together a script for our podcast. If you could both review this and give me feedback I would appreciate it. Feel free to change anything you don't agree with. Each team member has to record their part of the script on Audacity and then we need to send it to one person and add each portion. I haven't assigned anyone to a particular section so if you want to choose one and adjust it to say what you want, go right ahead. I'm not all that great with putting it all together and adding music but I could give it a try sometime tomorrow unless one of you wouldn't mind. I am busy tonight and most of tomorrow as I'm sure both of you are so lets try to be in contact with each other this evening or early tomorrow morning with a game plan!! Thanks:)

Katelyn

PODCAST SCRIPT:

(1 Topic from Textbook)

As future educators we would like to encourage the use of project-base learning within our classrooms. It is also important for educators to be aware of PBL as they begin their journey because the business world demands employees who know how to work as a team, access and analyze information, and think creatively to solve problems. Teachers should be aware that learners pursue their own questions to create their own meaning in project-based learning that is powered by contemporary technology. Project-based learning has been shown to be effective in increasing student motivation and improving students’ problem-solving and higher-order thinking skills. By maximizing the use of digital tools to reach essential learning goals, teachers can overcome the boundaries and limitations of the traditional classroom. Though challenging, if teachers invest the required amount of time to develop these project-based learning instructional strategies they will find their students

• engage in real-world activities and practice the strategies of authentic disciplines
• AND working collaboratively to solve problems that matter to them, students using technology as a tool for discovery, collaborating, and communication, taking learners places they couldn’t otherwise go and helping teachers achieve essential learning goals in new ways.

(1st ASPECT FROM OUR PROJECT)

There are several aspects of 21^st-century based skills and literacy. One aspect of these project-based learning techniques that we ourselves experimented with is called Blogging. A collaborative blog can be used as a learning community that exists in cyberspace. It is an easily edited Web page with one primary author controlling the contents. Viewers can comment on postings made by the author. A blog is a great tool for communicating about progress or milestones and to broadcast news related to a project. As educators, we highly recommend creating similar blogs for your students in a classroom to publish their thoughts, questions, and ideas in throughout their journey.

(2nd ASPECT FROM OUR PROJECT)

Another aspect of project-based learning that is useful for young learners is Virtual PenPals. Virtual or digital pen pals are a great way for students to learn about other students with similar or different backgrounds, geography, culture, language, history, and art. We encourage teachers to use their resources to design a project where their students can practice effective communication through various types of digital-age literacy. This will help reach high-order thinking and high productivity. Students can create a wiki, blog, etc and share information and interests with their “pen pals.”

(3rd ASPECT FROM OUR PROJECT)

An additional aspect of PBL that is beneficial in the classroom is creating digital stories. A digital story is a short form of digital media production that allows everyday people to share aspects of their life story. In this course, we produced a digital story using MovieMaker. Teachers and students can use this to provide vibrant pictures, appropriate music, and narration accompanied by subtitles. Content-related digital stories help elementary students understand abstract concepts. Teachers can use digital stories to facilitate class discussions and introduce new topics. Students can make their own digital story to help present and synthesize information while supporting higher level thinking and literacy skills.

(2 Topic from Textbook)

We have only highlighted a few of our favorite project-based learning techniques; there are numerous others to be explored. After a year of curriculum rich in projects it is essential to set time aside for reflection. Setting aside time for reflection is an essential element in learning. It encourages students to create their own meaning from different view points. Reflection helps prepare students beyond the experience to the next challenge they encounter, whether it be in the classroom or real-world. Reflection also helps students think about things they may have not considered before such as what they learned, what they enjoyed learning, how they have grown as a learner, and what they want to learn in the future. Reflection activities provide students with time to find personal meaning in the project experience. Giving students the opportunity to reflect on their challenges, frustrations, and joy they found in a project allows them to think about their learning growth. It also encourages them to think creatively about how they changed as a learner or what they will try to do better in the future. Asking students to draw attention to positive experiences they had in a project builds confidence and could even help you as a teacher understand how to better your instruction for the next project.