What may be the most challenging part of managing the process of student learning for your project? I knew instantly what the most challenging aspect of managing the process would be for me - letting go of control! I have a special education background and like teach in a highly structured, fairly quiet focused classroom. Yes, first graders can do this, and most of my students thrive in a highly structured environment. However that usually means that I do a lot of direct instruction or highly structured partner work during the course of our school day. Though through the PBL process I realize that I have to give up quite a bit of control to allow the students to explore their own answers to the driving question. Perhaps that will be controlled chaos :)

What may be the most challenging part of managing the process of student learning for your project?
The fact that the teacher becomes the manager is challenging. Teachers often take a more active/director role in the classroom but with PBL they need to step back and let the students take the active role and the teacher more of a passive/managerial role. Students do not have to sit in desks looking to the front of the class to learn. Allowing for collaboration and individual learning styles may cause the greatest challenge for the teacher.

What may be the most challenging part to managing the process of student learning for your project?
What are the benefits to students for using a constructivist approach to learning?
I'm going to address a portion of each of these. I think the most challenging part is going to involve the diverse needs of my students, so I especially appreciated all of the resources provided! My child with Asperger's is one challenge, but I've also heard of several other children with behavioral challenges. Those this seems most challenging to me, on the other hand constructivist teaching with really suit these kids. That approach will hopefully keep them engaged, active, and involved with their learning in a way that more traditional teaching would probably not. Challllenge and change are good things, so I'm ready to dive in and learn with the kids!

What may be the most challenging part of managing the process of student learning for your project? For me the most challenging partwill be letting go of what I think will work best and letting the students figure it out on their own (EVEN IF IT TAKES LONGER). With a limited amount of time in each day I tend to go too fast.

What are the benefits to students for using a constructivist approach to learning?

When students are able to apply their knowledge and skills to disprove what they believe to be correct or true, they ‘internalize’ that new knowledge. Students will continue to rethink using increasingly higher levels of thinking. This applies to all different learning modalities as well as students with special needs.

Q: What are the benefits to students for using a constructivist approach to learning?

A: The Constructivist approach says that students "construct" their own understanding based on what they already know and the information presented to them. This is often a deeper, more meaningful and long-lasting understanding than just memorizing a bunch of unconnected facts for a test. When students construct their own understanding, they are able to keep building on that understanding as more information is presented.

What may be the most challenging part to managing the process of student learning for your project?
I think the most challenging part is going to be a two part challenge one, the diverse needs of my students and the materials needed to offer a hand-on discovery learning. I will have a variety of student needs from high to low, non English speakers to discipline problems and special education so meeting all their needs will and learning styles will be a challenge. Managing all the simple machine materials will be yet another challenge requiring extensive classroom management.

Post your Driving Question and Entry Document, and than read and comment on 3 other's Entry Document. Address the following for each post:

What is engaging about the Entry Document?
My drivng question is Can we Improve First Grade Reading Using Technology? My entry document is begin with a question/answer period where I will ask my 8th graders to "step back in time" and remember when they were in first grade. Ask them if there was a time when they needed help with reading or some other subject. How did they get help? Who helped them? I want to appeal to the service side of the project. I also want to build confidence in both first graders and 8th graders as they share and use the multi-media projects presented.

•What may be the most challenging part to managing the process of student learning for your project?

There are a lot of challenges to learning this way. One of the elementary videos talked about how it is easier when a teacher's guide tells you what to do every day, that this can be more work for the teacher even though it looks like the kids are doing all the hard work. I think that knowing what to do when, when to assess what, and how to do it all are just things a teacher becomes comfortable with the more she works at it.

Q: What may be the most challenging part to managing the process of student learning for your project?

A: Hands down it will be me! I want to join them :) For me to take a step back and become the coach I know will be difficult for me, but I am looking forward to the challenge. I am excited to see the students taking on this new role, I want to feed off of their energy. I also think for the upcoming group that I will be getting this year the classroom management issue, I have to be proactive when it comes to classroom behavioral issues - setting the norms before the project begins.

What may be the most challenging part to managing the proecss of student learning for your project?
Of course it will be behavior. We have a very diverse group of students and some with really high needs or behavior issues. I really want to make sure all students are engaged in the learning process and all doing their part in their teams. I will need to spend a lot of time in the begnining modeling and practicing with the students how cooperative learning works.

What may be the most challenging part managing the process of student learning for your project? With second graders, I find that managing the weight of the group members is difficult. Keeping all students involved considering the learning styles and abilities of each and every student. I was happy to see a resource of strategies and ideas for managing PBL. Thank you!

Question: What are the benefits to students for using a constructivist approach to learning?

Answer: Students are much more motivated to learn when they feel as if they have some control in the learning process. They are also much more likely to remember what they have done because they have made connections that are meaningful and related to their individual experiences.

What may be the most challenging part to managing the process of student learning for your project? I think the most difficult thing for me will be the time constraints of my schedule. I am planning a nine week project, but I only see my students once a week. If there is a loss of school day or scheduling hiccup that delays our plans it will be difficult to maintain the contanuity for me as I want to do the project with my three 5th grade classes, but I see a different 5th grade class each day, so trying to keep all my balls in the air when they get off on different weeks will be a great challenge. I would LOVE for the chance to see them everyday!

What may be the most challenging part of managing the process of student learning for your project?

I think one of the most challenging parts of the process for third graders in working in groups and making sure each student is equally involved and understands their role in the project. Another challenge that I can predict is keeping myself and my students on schedule. So many times, I underestimate my projects due to unforeseen problems or reteaching. I really liked using the project calendar, hopefully this will cut down on time management issues.

What may be the most challenging part to managing the process of student learning for your project?

I think a big challenge will be knowing where all of my students are in the process and keeping track of my checkpoints and schedule/timeline. I will be doing this project with 3 different 6th grade classrooms that I only see for 60 minutes once a week. As I work on this plan and project, I am realizing the shortcomings of not having my own class or one that I see daily. I will have to be very effective in my front-end preparation and design a timeline that will help me to stay focused and organized.

What are the benefits to students for using a constructivist approach to learning?

By using a constructivist approah the teacher is allowing the students to construct their own knowledge based on their prior knowledge. This approach ensures that students will internalize the information and be able to retrieve it in the future. The main theorists for constructivism state that there can not be "real" learning unless a student constructs it in their own learning style. PBL allows for this by giving students choices and also allows for flexibility in the classroom. Some students will delve much deeper into topics than other students depending on their prior life experiences. However, all students in PBL classroom have opportunities to learn and grow.

What may be the most challenging part to managing the process of student learning for your project?

The most challenging part to managing the process will be assess their learning and letting go and letting my children "figure" things out on their own. Time is always such an issue, never enough of it, and it may take longer for kids to figure things out on their own.

What may be the most challenging part to managing the process of student learning for your project?
For me, time management will be an issue. I always struggle with how much time it takes to let kids explore. I want to give them all the time they need, but sometimes we don't have that much time. I have to step back and be patient.

What may be the most challenging part to managing the process of student learning for your project?
The most challenging aspect of this project will most definitely be allowing and trusting my students to work creatively and independently at such a young age. My students are in 2nd grade and it seems as if they will never be independent enough for me to let go and trust in their decision making and collaboration skills. I am just imagining the tears and meltdowns that could accompany a project like this and I will have to ensure that I provide support but still allow for individuality and creativity to lead to project for my students.

What may be the most challenging part to managing the process of student learning for your project?

I always feel like I'm on the clock. There is so much material that needs to be coveredand I want to make sure that I do my part before my students move on to the next grade. The struggle is to decide how much time is needed to complete each step in a project. Some students will work right through the process, but others will struggle. This is what every teacher must face.

The most challenging part to managing the process of student learning is probably going to be the coordination between the classes to make sure nothing important gets inadvertently left out.

•What are the benefits to students for using a constructivist approach to learning?

The students are more active in the learning process and using critical thinking skills throughout the student-centered process of PBL. They are internalizing their own learning during this process of guided inquiry.