Reading Reflection #6

 Technology tools such as using a blog can be great for any level student. This gives them a chance to write and record ideas over a long time, going back every so often to evaluate how there writing and ideas have really developed. Also with a blog other students can view the work and share there ideas on the post, giving you something to think about and reflective over. In the last class we talked about ipads, these can be great when a student is trying to evaluate themselves. They could be playing a game and see where they might need to improve on, instead of just talking a test.
 A great way to really start getting students minds ready for any project would be to get a feel for their prior knowledge. I really loved the Know-Wonder-Learn activity, this would be awesome to really get the students minds working and ready for the project at hand. I think it would be important to not just jump into the topic right away but let the students really explore and really think about the topic. I like the idea that the topic is brought up a little each day, to really get the students more and more excited and really thinking about the overall topic. Its important to get the students interest and to not just throw them into groups and say start.
 As it is really important for students to be working together it is also important to think about teaching prerequisite knowledge or skills students need in order to work with a degree of independence in their investigations. When students are than aware of what they know and don't know, they can establish a good point of departure and a sense of purpose when doing the project. Again the K-W-L would be really helpful. Another important idea would be to share the assessment rubric. Like the book states it can be their road map toward great achievement. All students should be aiming for the highest rating performance on each dimension.
 The first really important step would be to find out and understand how much technology background the students really have. Whether that be with a computer, ipod or even a smart board. Maybe your project involves the students making a broadcast, they will need to learn how to record and use that kind of technology. Some of this many need to be teach before the project can really start. If the students don't have a lot of background with a lot of technology maybe let them pick what they feel must comfortable with. You could also bring in a specialist to help the students as well. The idea one size fits all is not true at all, some students many be great with all kinds of technology and others may lack in that field, you can always work around that.
 Promoting inquiry and deep learning is really great idea, guide students as they choose questions, plan investigations, and begin to put their plan into action. Brainstorming as a group is always a great idea. Its also important to share with the students that sometimes doing less research on the Internet is good and just take a step back and really think about everything a little and than go back to researching with a clean open mind. Being there to really guide the students through research and mini lessons or activities will make for a better project overall.
Of course all the ideas and topics in this chapter are really important but I didn't find them as useful or helpful when thinking and planning about my project. I love the K-W-L activity and defiantly want to work that into my project because it seems so important. As well as getting the students minds ready but it seems a lot like the ideas we talked about in the chapters before and some of these ideas i believe would leave the students bored, just ready to start the project already.