EEND 678 Reflection

The biggest takeaways of this course are my understandings of Project Based Learning and essential questions.  I’ve definitely experienced the benefits of incorporating PBL through our 5th grade service learning projects on a larger scale, but I hope to incorporate PBL in some of the smaller units. Our service learning projects tend to start in October and last until the end of the year, but I’d like to do more PBL within our content based units. The learning is so much more authentic with PBL and the students have more ownership of it.  It’s amazing to see what students can achieve when the teacher relinquishes some control and allows them to creatively problem solve on their own. Teachers can facilitate that learning and creativity through the  use of technology.

I learned that some of the essential questions I’ve used in the past have been good, but that others need refining.  Within our district’s content unit pacing guides, “essential questions” are listed; however, these questions aren’t truly essential questions because they are too specific.  I learned that good essential questions can be applied across different subject areas and they are the driving force behind the learning.  After this class, I’m pretty confident I can spot a good essential question when I see one!