Presentation - Student Research Workshop for School Librarians
Steely Library, February 10, 2014
The Common Core State Standards stress the importance of leveraging technology to promote critical thinking, collaboration, and publishing. Teachers don’t have to choose between standards-based instruction and engaged learning. Project-based learning (PBL) with technology opens a world of possibilities for motivating students to reach their potential in a learning environment that is harmonious with the new standards. With PBL there is an emphasis on inquiry learning. Students pose questions and investigate answers that lead to solutions. Using a PBL model, students design, develop, evaluate and revise. While developing habits of mind that will serve them well for years to come, learners create products that have value within and outside of school.
As educators put the Common Core State Standards into practice, it makes sense to focus on the instructional shifts that must take place in order to implement the standards effectively. In English/Language Arts, there must be greater emphasis on content-rich nonfiction. Teachers must ask learners to move beyond merely understanding the text. They must guide students to analyze texts and develop arguments with text-based evidence. Close reading of complex texts will require both intentional instruction and patience.
In mathematics, the biggest shift involves greater focus on fewer topics. Teachers must help students connect topics across grade levels and disciplines. Most importantly, there must be an emphasis on conceptual understanding, procedural skill and application. Students must understand why we use math in the real world. Applying their knowledge and skill in math to real-world problems has the added benefit of increasing students' curiosity and motivation to learn.
References
Markham, T. (2013) Using PBL to jumpstart the common core standards. Southeast Education Network. Retrieved from
http://www.seenmagazine.us/articles/article-detail/articleid/2883/using-pbl-to-jump-start-the-common-core-standards.aspx
Pinto, J. (2013). What project-based learning looks like in math. Teachthought. Retrieved from
http://www.teachthought.com/learning/project-based-learning/project-based-learning-in-math-6-examples/
Project-based learning. Edutopia: What Works in Public Education. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning
PBL is an excellent approach to addressing the Common Core State Standards--especially when students leverage technology to learn and to design products. The following web resources will help teachers incorporate PBL into their practice:
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Wonderopolis is a "place where natural curiosity and imagination lead to exploration and discovery in learners." The site features a "wonder of the day," based on a question a child might ask. Teachers and students can explore an archive of past wonders representing investigations in all content areas. For instance, you might wonder, "Why do stink bugs stink?'
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Journey North is a citizen science project for classrooms. Students become scientists as they gather data and report results. The site provides Teacher Resources to assist with lesson planning, alignment to standards in science, and data collection.
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The purpose of Math Apprentice is to help learners see how math is used in the real world. The program invites students in grades 4 - 7 to play the role of an intern at one of eight companies in a growing metropolis. Students are greeted by an employee of the company who then explains the math behind the job. They may then choose to solve specific problems or explore math concepts on their own. The companion Teacher Page provides suggestions for a semester long project in which students explore careers that use math.
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Comprised of six projects, Curriki Geometry was designed to meet the needs of students born in a global, interactive, digitally-connected world through the use of real-world examples, engaging projects, interactive technologies, videos, and directed student feedback. The site feature six project-based learning initiatives, all based on the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics. Teachers must register to have access to materials. (It's free to join.) Students can explore materials without registering.
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My Digital Storytelling page contains links to tools, resources and models of digital stories. Digital storytelling is a wonderful way to engage learners in close reading of texts.
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Globaloria sparks students' imaginations as they learn to design and program their own educational games through a mix of teacher-led instruction, team-based learning and online networking with experts and peers.
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