My world history class is not producing work that I had envisioned, and its my fault. I needed to provide more guidance and give more and better examples of what I expected. I need to make this project more collaborative. I’m thinking of having the group collaborate on a wiki page that summarizes and extends the content we cover in a unit. Its been a good learning experience for me, and it hasn’t been a negative experience for the class. Overall I think they have been more engaged being able to demonstrate what they know in a different format. Because my students have deficits in reading and writing skills I was hoping this experience would help them demonstrate learning in a different format. I should have been more explicit in what I wanted them to get out of the project, because they are trying to show what they know in a written format, which is not their strength. I want them to work toward their strengths. This initial try will help me develop and plan more effective lessons in the future.
The algebra class began recording screencasts today. Everybody was extremely nervous and reluctant to “talk to the computer.” This reaction from a normally boisterous group. Again technical problems beyond our control, a slow internet, made the class proceed a little less smoothly than I had hoped. Learning the how the application worked took some time and one on one attention, leaving the rest of the group to work on their own, not the best situation. A teacher I work with spontaneously (on her prep hour) assisted students with recording, which was a big help and greatly appreciated. The reluctance to want to talk and uneasiness with being recorded is affecting the quality of the final product, but for a first try I have been pleased. Beyond learning math it has helped these students with their communication skills. I’m hoping to expose this class to different formats of demonstrating what they know so that in the future they can work together on creating unit reviews on a wiki page using formats and media of their choice.
As we wrap up these new experiences next week I hope to take a more in depth look at what I need to change in order for lessons to be better paced and have products that are at an even higher level of quality.
