Integrated+Learning+-Project+Based+Learning

Brenda Sherry from the UGDSB has a wiki called **tech2learn** and she has a page about project-based learning. It lists several documents. I have only briefly looked at it but thought it might be another source for those of us searching for "how to" ideas. Here's a question- outdoors and technology, can they be partners?

Integrated Learning -Project based Learning

Putting sturctures to integrated learning helps us see how these approaches unfold, thier benefits and where assessment takes place.

One apporach is project based learning and it has a lot of literature and experience asociated with it.

Here is a simplified template for it. With it you can planto inlcude the expectations from a variety of subjects that are part of the project, identify assessment opportunties, note in advance where direct learning will be needed to achieve one of the steps, and always differentiate to address different studetn abilities and interests.

Project-based Learning has a set of defined steps

** A project-based approach to learning **
 * 1) Defining the project
 * 2) Gathering information
 * 3) Analyzing the information
 * 4) Creating the product
 * 5) Presenting the Product
 * 6)  Evaluation
 * // “This approach gives students’ work meaning, and allows them to do work based on real issues and to experience an authentic task in a real-life context” Education for All, Ontario Ministry of Education //**


 * Project Based Learning Ideas for Grades K to 8**

This is a very real world approach to learning. You want to accomplish something so how do you go about learning to do it?

THe possiblities are endless of course but need to fit with logistical realitiies and provide opportunities to address curriculum expectations for your grade.

So here is a list of some projects that I have undertaken with studens and ones that can be modified to suit your situaion. to disuss any of these please use the associated discussion area for this page.

From our minutes on Jan 30

Examples of projects: Gr.8 - animals and animal rights; presented information in the mall and engaged with public for one school day; Gr. 8 - peer-teaching about technology - contact business for examples of technology and give lessons to other classes in the school to teach all about technology; Gr. 5 - Environmental Learning Centres - learn about the technologies and find an audience to teach about it (choose the 7-8 technologies in the Eco Pak and then have 3 or so students become “experts” in the technology. Get them to present to one another then to a public group - press conference, etc.) - go after the alternative perspectives (e.g. who thinks the building is NOT a good idea? Ask the skeptical questions)

And here are a few more that come to mind... Any junior Grade -explore the options for transit in your community. Research the possible destinations for an end of school field trip. Present to class. Choose one and undertake it.

Speak on behalf of someone or thing that does not have an adequate voince. Find out what they might say. Find an appropraite audience and communicate with it.

Homes for wildllife -what local wildlfe can we help through a building project? Then do it.

What natural, cultural or built aspects of our community do we really like and want more of? Research and communicate.

Adopt a local natural area and improve or assist it.

Schoolyard Nature Tour -research nature that exisits in the schoolyard, create a brochure, prepare guided tours for the next school open house.

Life is projects -link learning to these and it becomes so so engaging.

More to come, what are yours?

Cheers,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Stan

Older-Younger Student Peer Learning Projects
-a common example of this apporach is reading buddies

-our task here is explore opportunities to take this further in order benefit from multi age peer learning while employing learning stratgies such as learning locally, real -world connections and inquiry


 * Benefits for the Approach**

-shared leadership when older students provide support and direction to younger ones

-opportunityy to develop and apply responsiblity

-provides an audience for learning for both age groups

-some studetns will shine in these circumstances and be open to learning more than usual


 * Challenges for this Approach**

-uneven matching of numbers involved

-what do you do with the older studtns who may not be up to this leaning opportuntiy?


 * Insights on Practice**

-self and group reflection should be a part of this for both the younger and older students

-In the disucssion here please share any eamples from your experience and insights gained

Learning buddies works really well if the older kids are teaching something to the younger ones - pairing so that the buddies feel connected to each other is also crucial.

Nature Buddies

0 row selected - rows selected - [|clear] || Deepti and I are really trying to work out a plan to get together outside. I know her grade twos and Brendans 6's have had that opportunity. We run into the same difficulty which is time. I am only here with my kindies twice a week often. Then there is coordinating planning time and all that stuff. We are not giving up and know we just need to make it happen. A little snow would assist us in our plan! ||
 * [[image:http://c1.wikicdn.com/i/user_none_lg.jpg width="48" height="48" caption="traceydarling" link="http://www.wikispaces.com/user/view/traceydarling"]] || [|traceydarling] Jan 25, 2012 1:55 pm