It is extremely important to set aside time for
reflection. Reflection helps students feel good about what they have
accomplished. Also, reflection can make what students have learned actually
“stick.” Reflection helps students think about what they have learned, how they
have grown as learners, and what they want to learn in the future.
Students need to reflect because it helps them think
about growth in learning dispositions. Students may experience challenges,
frustrations, and joy when doing a project. Reflecting on obstacles that they
have overcome will help them realize what they were able to overcome and
accomplish. As teachers you can ask students: what does this get you wondering
about next? What do you want to learn now, and how do you want to go about it?
Students need to elaborate because they might take what they have learned and
develop a more ambitious project. For example, a team used a wiki to organize
their grant proposal. They designed a proposal that explained how math and
science videos would help students understand the material better. Therefore,
students can take what they have learned and develop something even bigger.
Schools build tradition and identity by building
awareness in others. Students that are coming p in the grades know what’s up.
Therefore you have a foundation for tradition. The older siblings pass down to
the younger siblings what they did in certain class with certain teachers.
It is important to celebrate a project that way you
can build your schools identity as a place where kids get to learn through
projects. You can show the student work, plan an event, create a blog, or even
hold a party. You should have students take control of the celebration. You
should include the following:
·
An opportunity to look back at the work
·
Acknowledge the hard work
·
Appreciation for all who helped
·
A display of learning
·
Process and growth
·
Showcase projects to colleagues,
administrators, etc.
Concepts in this chapter relate to my teams project
because we get feedback on our assignments which helps us reflect on what we
have done well on and what we need to improve on. For example, our first lesson
plan that we created using taskstream. We received feedback from our teacher
and were able to reflect on what we accomplished, but also what we need to do
better on for our next lesson plan that we create.
I like that you mention that students should take control of the celebration. It would be easy for the teacher to take control back and plan something for the students, but since students have been in control through out the project it only makes sense they should help with the celebration as well. Plus, it is probably more meaningful for students to create a celebration that shows how far they have come.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that reflection is a powerful tool! I think you touched on a good point in developing meaning questions. Like the book said if we just gave them a list of questions, they will dread reflections. When we provide deeper meaningful questions, it will help their learning stick, give them insight on strategies that worked or did not and help them, and reveal where they want to go. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi Kayleigh!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your response and so much of it totally hit home for me! I especially liked when the mentioned that "Schools build tradition and identity by building awareness in others." I completely agree! I do think that this is often a point that is forgotten by administrators and teachers often: that what they do inside the classroom plays into a much larger picture for everyone. Using Reflection as a way for analyzing, celebration and improving helps to get on the road to this success much more efficient and relevant.
Great job!
-Sabrina