Reflection/Resource - collaborating online

We've reached the halfway point in this class and this week I've been thinking about the successes and challenges I've encountered. I've really used my research skills more in the past 8 weeks than for any other class I've taken. It's definitely been more challenging than helping 6th-8th graders research. I've enjoyed locating information and posting resources on the blog and I feel that I've posted resources and reflections consistently. I've also been successful in using google sandbox and I think organization is key to keep it from getting too messy. The wiki sections that I was responsible for look good even though I had some technical difficulties posting a quiz. My biggest challenge has been with the collaborative group work. My first two goups actually consisted of only two active participants . So for the first chapter I worked on there wasn't a quiz builder and for the second there was no author. My partners and I worked around those challenges and overall I think we did a great job. Today I was at Webster's library to check out a book for my research and I came across another book that really caught my attention, Collaborating Online: Learning Together in Community. Although the book is intended for faculty who are teaching online, it has information on constructivism and collaboration that is relevant for any educational setting. It was interesting to compare some of the ideas in the book to some of the experiences I've had with online classes. When I came acrosss the chapter "Collaboration Challenges", I was intrigued because some of the issues presented related to some of the challenges we have faced with this class. This really is an interesting and timely resource.

Paloff, R.M. & Pratt, K. (2005). Collaborating online: Learning together in community. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Resources - articles

Here are 2 more articles I found interesting as I was researching this week:

Artino, A. (2008, June 6). A brief analysis of research on problem-based learning. Online Submission. Retrieved March 10, 2009, from ERIC database.

Gordon, M. (2009). Toward a pragmatic discourse of constructivism: Reflections on lessons from practice. Educational Studies 45, 39-58. Retrieved March 9, 2009 from ERIC database.

Reflection/Resource - Project MO-Bridge

I recently received an e-mail from MOREnet about a special project they are promoting. Project MO Bridge is a ten part virtual fieldtrip series that looks at the math, science, economic, historical, cultural, engineering and aesthetic aspects of building a bridge. The Missouri Research & Education Network (MOREnet) in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and Roundtrips sponsor the programs. The Missouri Department of Transportation is actually building a new bridge across the Missouri River at Glasgow, Missouri (http://www.modot.mo.gov/northcentral/glasgowbridgeproject.htm). What a great opportunity for students to participate in an authentic learning activity! Each program in the series is offered live via videoconferences and Internet web streaming. Although this current project is halfway over, classes can still participate in the remaining five programs. As I was reading about the 10 programs in this series I was thinking what a great constructivist project this is. Students are able to learn what it takes to build a new bridge—from dream to design to construction to operation - as it is actually being built. They interact with experts in a wide variety of fields and in certain programs work from the perspectives of different community members

As I was reading about this project I also learned about RoundTrips which is student-centered distance learning developed by classroom teachers (in St. Louis) for other classroom teachers. By visiting their website you can learn more about MO-Bridge and read about the past projects. Materials from past projects are available and can still be used even though they aren't live. The website also states that they can help you create your own virtual fieldtrip. What a great resource right here in St. Louis!

Project Mo-Bridge. http://www.roundtrips.org/index.html

Resource - USA Today & project-based learning

USA Today newspaper offers complimentary educational resources including lessons and projects. Keep in mind that USA Today does offer some grants for classroom subscriptions.

One project that I recently read about is Improbable History. This four-week project is based on the 1960s cartoon, Improbable History. Students work in pairs and take a ride in the "Wayback Machine" trying to fix history so a current problem doesn't occur.

Information about this project can be found at

Improbable History. USA Today Education. Retrieved March 6, 2009 at http://usatodayeducate.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Improbable(2).pdf

For more information about the programs and resources available for teachers go to the education home page:

USA Today Education. http://www.usatodayeducate.com/wordpress/

Resources - Constructivism & Science

Here are some articles supporting integrating constructivism in science classrooms:

Beamer, T., Sickle, M. V., Harrison, G., & Temple, G. (2008, Fall). Lasting impact of a professional development program on constructivist science teaching. (Report). Journal of Elementary Science Education, 20(4), 49(12), 49-61. Retrieved March 5, 2009 from Science Resource Center database.

Haney, J., Lumpe, A., & Czerniak, C. (2003, December). Constructivist beliefs about the science classroom learning environment: Perspectives from teachers, administrators, parents, community members, and students. School Science and Mathematics, 103(8), 366-377. Retrieved March 1, 2009 from Science Resource Center database.

Haney, J., Wang, J., Keil, C., & Zoffel, J. (2007, June). Enhancing teachers' beliefs and practices through problem-based learning focused on pertinent issues of environmental health science. Journal of Environmental Education, 38(4), 25-33. Retrieved March 5, 2009, doi:10.3200/JOEE.38.4.25-33 from Academic Premiere database.

Hemler, D., & Repine, T. (2002, April). Reconstructing the geologic timeline: A constructivist slant to a classic activity. The Science Teacher, 69(4), 32-35. Retrieved March 5, 2009 from Science Resource Center database.

Rita, R. (1998, May). Integrated constructivism. The Science Teacher, 65(5), 24-8. Retrieved March 5, 2009 from Science Resource Center database.

Windschitl, M. (1999, April). A vision educators can put into practice: Portraying the constructivist classroom as a cultural system. School Science and Mathematics , 189-197. Retrieved March 5, 2009 from Science Resource Center database.

Resource/Reflection - Constructivism in early childhood classrooms

As a former kindergarten teacher, I was very interested in the article "When Children Make Rules." Classroom rules are traditionally made by teachers but constructivist principles advocate allowing children to have input in developing class rules. In preschool and kindergarten, I thought. How would that work? This article explains that constructivism does not mean complete freedom. Constructivist teachers aren't permissive and they must at times exert external control. The authors present four general guidelines for using external control. The first guideline emphasizes the importance of providing an environment of cooperation and community. This also supports the concept of "learning community" that I researched for the wikibook. As I read examples in this article of young children helping to make rules through class discussions, I thought about a workshop I went to on classroom meetings in relation to character education. It's really the same thing- letting students have a voice and giving them choices. It totally makes sense that if we want students to think for themselves and exercise autonomy we must let them in on decision making - even in kindergarten. This article really makes that seem possible.

DeVries, R. & Zan, B. (2003, September). When children make rules. Educational Leadership, 61(4), 64-67.

Resources - project-based learning books

Here's a guide for teachers who want to implement project-based learning activities. What makes this one different? It has a technology focus for the 21st century by addressing web 2.0 tools - wikis, blogs, podcasting, skype, flickr etc.

Boss, S., Krauss, J. & Conery, L. (2008). Reinventing project-based learning:
Your field guide to real-world projects in the digital age.  Washington, DC:
International Society for Technology in Education.

The title of this book caught my attention because it mentions that dreaded word - "test". The first part of the book reviews differentiating instruction and then includes model projects for the four core subject areas.

Schlemmer, Phil & Schlemmer, Dori. (2007).  Teaching beyond the test:
Differentiated project-based learning in a standards-based age: For grades 6 & up.
Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing.