PBL project reflection

Emily Headings

EdTech 650

Dr. Clausen

Reflection

Although this summer course has been fast and furious, I have learned a great deal about incorporating educational technology into my teaching practices. I consider myself to be very good at using the technology available to me in my teaching, but I still learned a great deal. I’ve learned a little bit about digital storytelling before this class, but had never used it. I was hesitant to use it with kindergarten students because of the huge workload it seemed to be. I am so glad I ventured out of my comfort zone to make a digital storytelling unit. I learned so much about the technology, and what my students really COULD do.   

I always consider the discussion board to be my favorite part of BSU’s distance education courses, because of the interaction with my peers. I always find the interaction to be a great learning experience. However, in this course, I didn’t learn so much from my peer as I did from my own research. This course had a vast amount of information that was not only interesting to me, but also applicable to my teaching at the moment. One post in particular got me to start thinking about adaptations when using technology. I had never before had a student who needed any adaptations, but I know I will in the future. It was a great experience for me to start thinking about different things I can do with these children. 

  I felt I learned more in this class than in others, and because my interest was peaked, I put a lot of effort into my learning in this course. I’m sure every students works harder with items they are more interested in, and I am no different. The Grabe & Grabe text is one I will keep with me for a long time.  The only thing I wish was different about the course, was the learning environment assignment. I absolutely loved this assignment, but I wish it would have been at the END of the course, instead at the beginning. After reading the different textbooks and articles, I would have changed a few things and added some different graphics to the project. 

     The biggest theme I saw from the discussion posts was simply looking at our own teaching practices, and seeing how we could make technology more effective. It was interesting to be participating in the discussion posts WHILE doing the planning for my project, because I made changes and additions to the project as I went along. Having my peer's input and ideas available to me the entire time was very beneficial. Although summer school is over and I cannot try out my project until the next school year starts, I look forward to trying it out and learning what works for them. 

Project Planning Sheet

 Project Planning Sheet

Name: Emily Headings

Grade Level and Subject Area: Kindergarten Writing and Science

Title of Lesson: What would YOU do? 

Goals: The major goal of this lesson is to give students a chance to show their writing abilities by creating a digital story. Students will be investigating how to best help the community with reducing, reusing, and recycling. 

Content Standard(s): 

-With guidance and support from adults, explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.

-Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.

Technology Standard(s):
Standard 2. Communication and Collaboration 
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.

Performance Objectives:

1. Students will pick an environmental issue they want to change.
2. Students will do research about the issue.
3. Students will create a story sharing about their issue.
4. Students will create digital pictures to use in their digital story.
5. Students will record their voice and put together their digital stories.
6. Students will use share their digital stories with other students, and give academic feedback on 2 other students' stories. 

Description of lesson: This unit will take place over a week, with a lesson each day.
1. the first lesson will start out with a video clip about our community's problem with littering, trash, and other issues. Students will be asked to think about how they could help the problem. We will make a list of problems and possible solutions to the problems.
2. In the second lesson, students will be taken to a landfill and be able to ask questions of the staff there. 
3.The third lesson will be a time students can write a story of how they can help the planet. They will be writing their stories, and asked to do a brief sketch. 
4.Then, students will be abe to pick whichever way works best for them to create pictures to go along with their story. They can use the ipad, computer, or draw and scan their pictures. 
5. The last day will more work time, in order for students to record their voices and put together their digital stories.
6. The week after, we will have a day for sharing time, in which we will watch other student's digital stories. Students will be asked to give feedback to two other students. For their grade, I will be grading using our school district's writing rubric, which is as follows. 
3- I can write a story with a beginning, middle, and end all by myself
2- I can write a story but need a little help
1-I cannot write a story without a lot of help.



Students will be using Track star to move through the project. You can find the track here. 

Create a Copy



Other kindergarten teachers will be using this same activity at the same time, so collaboration with other teachers will be key. If students need more time with a certain piece  we will take more time. This will be the first time doing this activity, so a lot of flexibility is built into the lessons.