The use of constructivism (hands-on) learning is a valuable tool that teachers need to use. It's easy to get stuck in the daily grind and teaching through lecturing or small group learning. However, to take the time to step out of the norm and have students create something that applies to what they are learning about is a valuable way to spend your teaching time. I think that we all can recall projects that we created as students and probably can recall the information we used a lot better than information we read about in a text book. These are the types of learning opportunities that I want to provide more of for my students.
Embedding technology into these projects takes learning a step further into the future of learning. Each year I have my students complete a research project and report on Christmas traditions throughout the world. This year, my students will be using the concept map that I created to help them with their research. Seeing my thought processes and expectations in a concept map format will help my students to see where their expectations lie. After we complete this project, the next step in my plan is to create a concept map on dinosaurs for my class' next research project. This will show my students the ease of creating a concept map and the benefits.
There are so many tech resources available to our students, I feel that introducing these resources to them and showing them how to use them will benefit them for years to come. Technology is evolving each and every day. We, as educators, need to help our students evolve with it.
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Heather, I would love to hear about your concept map research projects that your students are going to do. Are you planning on doing this individually? How much time do you give your students to create this research project?
ReplyDeleteI have noticed in my short time of teaching that if students have a template to you, they seem to do a better job and have a better understanding of what you are asking them to do on a project like you did with your Christmas traditions project. However, some of the reasons I do not always do this is because I feel it limits some of their creativity and all of the projects come out looking similar.
ReplyDeleteHi Heather, I think graphic organizers are such tools for successin the classroom. Especially with my students...kids that all ready struggle with reading. Anything that can help them pull apart our learning only helps them to further understand! Great post.
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