Reflection/Resource - CIESE

Here's another site that offers online projects. CIESE (The Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education) began in 1988 with a goal of improving K-12 science and mathematics education through the use of technology. According to the curriculum overview page "CIESE curriculum projects use ‘real-time’ data from government and commercial databases; engage students in telecollaborative projects using ‘pooled’ data from shared, Web-based databases; involve student publishing on the Web; and provide access to unique and primary source information." This link http://www.ciese.org/currichome.html will connect you to the K-12 projects. I wish I could get some teachers in my school to participate in one of these online projects. They hesitate to get involved with projects because of the emphasis on preparing for the state test (MAP). The more I read about constructivism and project-based learning the further I feel my district is moving away from this type of learning. Everything is curriculum and grade-level expecation and testing, testing, testing. Teachers get so focused (and feel pressured) on the "what" they have to teach that I think they feel they have to be the "fountain of knowledge". I think we're making many students more dependent on the teacher rather than independent learners.