Blog Post 5 Part B

PLN: Personal Learning Network

Throughout this course, I have learned so much from the assignments we have been given. The most helpful tool we were given was to comment on teachers' blog posts. I learned several techniques and tools from watching these teachers put their life's work out for the world to see. In my blog, I have posted about several teachers I was assigned to comment on, and I chose posts that I found intriguing. It was great to learn from so many different people around the world.

My PLN:

My professors and lab assistants
Comments for Teachers (and the things I learn from them)
Comments for Kids (being able to learn from young students and the types of assignments I could give)
Comments for Classmates (seeing my classmates' ideas is very important)

Using organizers such as Symbaloo will help me keep track of my PLN and all the events happening within it. I am very excited to start my journey into my PLN and to become a better teacher because of it.

Blog Post 16 Final Reflection

Project 12 SmartBoard Project

Blog Post #13

Assignment: Blog Post #13

How can we incorporate Project Based Learning into Physical Education Classes? 

Create a lesson plan that incorporates PBL into Physical Education and share below. 

Age: High school
Assignment: Come up with a lesson plan for the opposite sex, and someone your age to complete. DO YOUR RESEARCH! Take into consideration their age, metabolism, differing athletic abilities, interests, etc. Create a presentation to give the class. You will have two weeks to complete the assignment. Enjoy! 

Calendar for PBL Project

Lesson Plan for Day of Beginning of Project

Rubrics for Grading Students

Blog Post #12

What assistive technologies are available to you as a teacher?

In Physical Education, using assistive technologies is very important. Knowing what technologies are required for students with disabilities is key in understanding how to incorporate these students into regular Physical Education programs.

C4K #8, #9, #10

C4K #8
Erik L's post:
Erik did a book review on one of the books in the Left Behind series. These are stories about life after the rapture when God takes the believers and the young to Heaven and off the Earth. He is about halfway through the series, and I am hoping he finishes it because it is a great set of novels!

My comment to Erik:
Erik,
I am a college student at the University of South Alabama. I am studying to become a teacher. This sounds like a great book! I would love to read the whole series, it sounds very interesting! I have read the first book and I really enjoyed it. Nice review!

C4K #9
Ashton's Blog post:
Ashton gave a great description of a kids' triathlon he participated in. He went into great detail about the day leading up to the event. Ashton used very good grammar and a few onomatopoeia's to enhance his reader's interest. I really enjoyed reading his post.

My comment to Ashton:
Ashton, my name is Abby and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in the United States. I  liked how detailed you were in your post! You are a great writer, keep it up!

C4K #10
Paul's Blog post: 
Paul came up with a recipe for a lunch for his teacher. It consisted of very funny, witty sources of food. I looked at other kids' recipes in his class, and all were very creative. What a great idea for an assignment!

My Comment to Paul:
I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. I am studying to become a teacher. I enjoyed your little recipe. This was a very creative idea, and very witty! I’m not sure I would enjoy it very much.

Blog Post #11

In the Tedx Talk Back To The Future, Brian talks about his strategies used for getting poverty-stricken students involved in Project Based Learning. He first wants their full attention and involvement, so he lets them crush cans, make hot air balloons, and all different kinds of fun things that will grab their attention. He tests them by having them video their projects and embed them into a blog post. He asks comprehensive questions that will have them explain what makes their hot air balloons work. Many of the students are English Language Learners, so he also includes language intensive work that will help his students learn the English language better.

The next video is about the Blended Learning Cycle, and the power of the question. Blended learning is based on mobile, online, and classroom learning. Paul Andersen also explains the Learning Cycle, beginning with engaging, then exploring, explaining and expanding. All of these are based around the evaluation stage. The Blended Learning Cycle is summarized by QUIVER:

Question

Investigation/Inquiry
Video
Elaboration
Review

The goal of being a Super Digital Citizen is to surf the web safely, respectfully, and responsibly. The teacher in this classroom also uses great ideas to get his students' full attention. He explains what it is to be a digital superhero, which is someone who uses their powers on the internet to help people. I would personally love to use this lesson in my classroom because I think it will teach my students to have good character as well.

In the engaging video Project Based Learning, it is described as something that engaged learners and gave them a deep understanding of what they were learning. Teachers in a Canadian school describe the process they went through to make Project Based Learning happen in their program. First, two teachers combined Canadian Literature and Canadian History with the computer class in the school to make one big project-based class that would offer them three credits as opposed to one.

In Roosevelt Elementary's PBL Program, the teacher describes what Project Based Learning is to her, and how she incorporates it into her classroom. She includes her definition of PBL, which is in depth learning with integrated thematic instructions, based on real-world problems, and will be presented to the class after being thoroughly researched.

I think all schools should think about incorporating Project Based Learning as a requirement to graduate because it will help students in the decision making process and will help them understand topics deeply rather than the little they fully understand in a lecture-based class.

I think all schools should think about incorporating Project Based Learning as a requirement to graduate because it will help students in the decision making process and will help them understand topics deeply rather than the little they fully understand in a lecture-based class.