Reading Reflection 4

1.)Some of the potential pitfalls in project design:
 • Long activities that prove to be limiting the student’s outcomes. A project needs to be the “right size” if you want your student’s to learn the material. An indication that you may be facing this problem is when all students are producing similar products.
 • Technology layered over traditional teaching practices is an in adequate use of technology incorporation in the classroom because it is masking the true use of technology. The best way to make sure you are using technology properly is by looking at the quality of learning products.
 • Avoid trivial thematic units to ensure that your students are learning about the deeper meaning behind specific areas. Structure your lessons differently so that your students know all aspects of your topic.
 • Stay away from overly scripted lessons that contain too many steps. When a teacher is telling the students exactly what they should be doing they, you are missing the opportunity to allow your students to make their own critical decisions about their learning path.

 2.) As a teacher, the most important thing that you need to be aware of when planning a project is flexibility. It's essential to remember that you can't always predict what your day is going to be like, or how much work your students are going to be capable of handling in particular day. You should always be flexible when it comes to changing preexisting lessons so that they are newly catered to the interests of your current students. Some of the features that describe a great project is; loosely designed assignments, generative lessons that construct meaning, questions that promote inquiry, projects that are realistic and useful to real life, assignments that use 21st-century skills, and lessons that learn by the students physically doing something.

 3.) Good project ideas can be found anywhere and everywhere. By keeping your student's in mind you should always be able to find something to drive your projects. Keep your ideas limited to things that are relevant and interesting to the kids in your class. Sometimes even the things that you would never imagine forming a project around, such as disruptive technology in the classroom (i.e. cellphones, ipods, etc.) can be useful project ideas.

 4.) When designing your own project there are four important steps that need to be addressed before your idea has come to life. The first step involves revisiting the framework to make a final list of all learning objectives. You also need to decide on the 21st-century skills you want to address and utilize, as well as identifying the learning dispositions you want to foster. The second step is when you establish evidence of understanding, and imagine how your students will be different as learners because of this new information. The third step is when you plan the "vehicle" (the project theme or challenge). Before picking your topic you needs to think about what your students would acquire through this lesson. The final step is building excitement within your students so that they feel eager to start the project.

 5.) The information in this chapter is related to what we are doing in class because it shows the process that we are currently going through as we are building our projects for our "classrooms". This chapter is a good reference to consider as we build our lessons and imagine ideas to get our projects to the most productive level.