PROJECT-BASED LEARNING &

TECHNOLOGY

Group 08: Cassandra Singleton & Natayle Brown

What is Project Based Learning?

The primary focus of project-based learning is to teach students the skills necessary for everyday situations. Students are more deeper engaged to research and find idealistic solutions.Incorporating technology into classroom projects ensures that our students can use technology effectively and productively.

Project-Based Learning Cont.

Project-based learning is centered around classroom activity that emphasizes learning activities which are interdisciplinary and student focused. This approach is generally less structured than traditional teacher-led classroom activities. Students must organize their own work and must manage their own time. Within the project-based learning style, students are able to collaborate by working together. The collaboration between students is what makes this style of learning differ from the traditional inquiry based activities.

How does it work?

Students are able to form their own investigation which in turn allows students to develop valuable research skills. The students engage in problem solving, decision making and investigating activities. Students can work in groups or by themselves to come up with ideas and realistic solutions.

This still includes teacher facilitation, but not as much teacher direction as in traditional instruction. The main focus of this form of learning is to drive students to encounter the core concepts and principles of a subject hands on.

TEACHER PLANNING FOR INTEGRATION

When students are able to take responsibility for their learning, their self esteem soars. Project-based learning helps to create better work habits and attitudes in the learning process. Although students work in groups during project-based learning, they become more independent because they are receiving little instruction from the teacher. Students will begin to learn skills that are essential in higher education and skills that strengthen their ability to expand their minds. Students will find better solutions to problems by utilizing their critical thinking skills.

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Integration Cont.

There are several features that assist in the direction of

project-based instruction within a classroom. It is important to

provide students with a specific focus throughout the project

that enables them to make connections with real life

experiences or situations. It will be most beneficial to have a

specific focus relevant to the particular age group.

Planning for the Educator

Teachers decide on what instructional strategies to demonstrate and how to carry them out. When

teachers create an instructional design for technology integration, they need to consider the characteristics of their topic and the needs of their

students as well.

Questions to Consider

A few questions that teachers must ask themselves while planning are things like:Should students work individually, in pairs, small groups, or as a whole? How can technology support these methods?How can I prepare the students to use these technologies?

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COLLABORATION

Collaboration is a key element of project-based learning. It helps to promote independent learning which in turn helps promote higher order thinking skills. The main focus is for the students to gain information through the application of several technologies including computer programs, audio visual equipment and real life research to ensure that the full experience of the project is gained. The ultimate goal is to answer a specific question with the collaboration of others.

National Educational Technology Standards (NETs)

According to the most recent NETs, students must effectively incorporate technology in order to:Demonstrate creativity and innovation.Communicate and collaborate.Gather, evaluate, and use information.Critically think, solve problems, and make decisions.Understand ethics and responsibility in technology.Understand and use technology systems.

TECHNOLOGY & PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

When students use technology as a tool to communicate with others, they must transmit the information gathered and they must make decisions on how to obtain and display this information. Technology makes it possible for students to think actively about the choices they make and what they execute. The instructors role in PBL is that of a facilitator.

Student Benefits

Project based technology can reach out and accommodate many different types of learners. It can especially engage those who are strong auditory, visual, or kinesthetic learners; as seeing, hearing, and doing are the main components of classroom projects.

Benefits Cont.

Students will begin to learn skills that are essential in higher education and skills that strengthen their ability to expand their minds. Students will find better solutions to problems by utilizing their critical thinking skills.

When students are able to take responsibility for their learning their self esteem soars. Project-based learning helps to create better work habits and attitudes in the learning process.

Although students work in groups during project-based learning, they become more independent because they are receiving little instruction from the teacher.

TYPES OF MULTIMEDIA & TECHNOLOGIES

Computer software programs such as Inspiration, Spreadsheet, PowerPoint and Word Processors.

Internet technologies such as Blogs, Wikis, & Social Networking.

Digital cameras, video cameras, printers, scanners, etc.

Auditory programs such as Garageband, Audacity, and Podcasts.

Software

Inspiration: Visual mapping program for brainstorming, developing and organizing ideas, and presenting

information.

VIDEO CAMERAS

Students can effectively incorporate video cameras into project-based learning to become more familiar with the technology. They can practice responsibilities such as writing movie scripts, creating personal interviews, movies, or documentaries, and editing them for presentation.

PowerPoint

PowerPoint is a presentation program that allows users to organize ideas and information into a creative and

professional presentation. Teachers can use PowerPoint to present a class lecture, and students can use PowerPoint to

summarize research.

Podcasting

Podcasts are audio broadcasts that are available for playback on computers and digital mp3

players. Teachers can use Podcasts regularly in the classroom for reviews or missed lectures, and

students can use Podcasts creatively for class assignments and presentations.

Technology in Special Education

The computer has been shown to motivate the special education student “…to spend more time working on an instructional assignment and doing well in school.”

Due to receiving tutoring and instruction on the computer, students with disabilities are able to particularly shine when doing project-based activities.

Adaptive Technology

Certain modifications are necessary to accommodate students with disabilities to ensure they succeed equally with technology and project-based learning.Examples:

•Keyboard Modifications•Discover Switch•IntelliKeys•Touch Screen•Personal Scanning Pens

Social Uses of Technology

We live in an age of information and teachers today are expected to teach their students to solve problems using their knowledge as well as incorporating technology. Technology can assist teachers and their students in becoming more successful and marketable. However, at times it can be perceived that technology may become less positive depending on how it is taught as well as demonstrated and used.

POSITIVE ASPECTS OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE

CLASSROOM

Students tend to complete their work more quickly.

They are less likely to have difficulty processing the material being taught.

Their papers, projects, and assignments are more likely to be more

presentable and professional.

Negative Aspects

On the other hand, the growth in popularity of the use of technology

is not always welcomed by some individuals as well as public critics.

For example, author Oppenheim wrote a book titled "The Flickering

Mind: The False Promise of Technology in the Classroom”, discussing

the importance of technology in the classroom. He concluded that

placing computers in the classroom has been almost entirely

wasteful. Other critics have written and spoken about how

technology should not be used in schools for a variety of reasons,

such as preventing students from learning the basic critical skills.

Teachers Technology Literacy

As technology dramatically changes our society, educators need to demonstrate the skills and behaviors of digital-age professionals. Competence with technology is the foundation. The teacher is key when using technology within the classroom. Teachers can increase the classroom participation of all students by incorporating technologies such as email, interactive whiteboards, podcasts and blogs into their daily instruction.

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Legal, Social, & Ethical Issues

The ISTE National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers advises how teachers need to carefully examine their students. Since technology has been increasingly used in the classrooms today, there has also been a rise of legal and ethical issues as well, such as:

Stealing software, including making and using illegal copies of software.

Plagiarizing, exceedingly using work without referencing the source and without paying attention to copyright laws.

Damaging, destroying, stealing, and illegally using files that belong to others.

Teachers need to be aware of these issues and lead by example. It is important that educators demonstrate by using original work or correctly citing their sources.

REFERENCES Boss, Suzie, and Krauss, Jane. Reinventing Project-Based Learning. Washington,

D.C: ISTE, 2007. Web. 01 Dec 2010.

Wetzel, K., Mitchell-Kay, S., & Foulger, T.S. Rathkey, C. (June, 2009) Using

technology to support learning in a first grade class. International Journal of

Technology in Teaching and Learning.

Zhang,Y. (1999) Project-Based collaborative learning. 10th International Conference

of the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (pp.1960-1963)

Wikipedia. "Project-Based Learning." "Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia". 20

November 2010. . 4 December 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project-

based_learning>.

Pittman,Joyce. Teachers and cognitive literacy skills: implications for technology.

Article from: Journal of Research on Technology in Education. June 22, 2002.

ISTE. "NETS for Students." International Society for Technology in Education. 2007..

. 3 December 2010. <http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students.aspx>.