Blog Assignment #6

Conversations with Anthony Capps

In the first videos, Project Based Learning Part 1 and Project Based Learning Part 2, we watched a discussion about PBL between Dr. Strange and Mr. Anthony Capps. Anthony is a former student of EDM310, and now teaches 3rd grad in Baldwin County at Gulf Shores. He is a big advocate for project based learning. This is my first class with PBL, and I am just learning how to do everything so these videos definitely helped. In video one he says the major needs of PBL includes authentic audience for motivation, student interests, involves the community, and is content standards driven. Students will be much more likely to enjoy learning if it is something that interests them and motivates them. What I enjoy about PBL is that it is useful in so many more ways than just the classroom. He talks about his students' letters to congress and how it helped them to talk about something they were passionate about. It gave them the opportunity to take control and give their opinions. In the second video, he talks about an instance where the principal came in during a lesson. When the administrator wanted to ask questions about PBL he gave the children the opportunity to answer, and they thrived. His description of their excitement to answer questions and show off their work is exactly the reaction children should have about learning. I want for my future students to be as proud of their work as I will be.
iCurio
Another video discussion between Dr. Strange and Mr. Anthony Capps about iCurio in the classroom. I have never heard of, nor used, iCurio until this class. In this video I learned that it is an online tool that works like a search engine, but can search many things such as audio and video. Another useful thing about it is that it allows you to store things you found resourceful, and keep it organized. There are features for different subjects such as historical figures and timelines. You also have the ability to narrow results with specific criteria. I believe this could be a very useful in the classroom for students or teachers. I hope to soon start taking advantage of it.
Discovery Education
Anthony tells us Discovery Education is very useful for students and teachers. He says the science and history resources are extremely useful for projects and research. Using visuals along with texts will help the students retain the knowledge easier, and they can use some of them as resources.
Strange Teacher Tips
Key things for new teachers to think about. 1) You have to really be interested in learning yourself. In order to teach about learning you must want to learn yourself. 2) Hard work, but it is very rewarding, and can be fun if you let it be. 3) Be flexible in your creativity and your class plans. 4) Get kids engaged! 5) Be able to reflect on your own works and self evaluate.
Additional Thought
Anthony gives us some additional tips for the classroom.
4 layers of a lesson
1) A year: How it fits with your year and content standards. Broken into units
2) A unit: Projects and lessons that connect and scaffold properly. Broken into weeks
3) A week: Every day has everything getting done. Broken into days.
4) A day: How you deliver it to your students to keep them engaged daily.