Chapter 5 - Reflection

When planning a new project teachers should carefully consider what materials they will use in their lesson. The key to making the materials be major component in the project, teachers needs to really think outside the box, and look outside the classroom cabinet. Organizations have started providing recycled materials to teachers; fantastic, free, for students. It is difficult to say exactly what materials a teacher should use, as that information really should be project-specific. Some examples from the text indicate what a PBL environment; trips to hospitals for health projects, in-person and Skype visits from specialists, and demonstrations. The common thread in these non-traditional materials is community.

Teachers are rarely seen without their calendars, and now students are using calendars to manage their projects. Using a calendar can be as simple as the teacher sharing the project milestones with the students to be as advanced as a class Web site. The end result will be the same; management needs being met for both teachers and students.

As previously mentioned, technology can bring an expert right into your classroom via videoconferencing. An opportunity such as this can expose your students to experts in their project content and that is invaluable. Technology in projects has gone past word processing and research, it is now a material.

Technology will be a huge part of my birding project. We will have many material needs, many of which will require help from the community. I love that there are organizations to help teachers bring these projects to life.