Blog Post 6- What did you learn from these conversations with Anthony Capps?

  Through watching many conversational videos between Dr. Strange, EDM310 professor at the University of South Alabama, and Anthony Capps, former EDM310 student, they discussed the benefits, aspects, and planning that goes into creating an effective Project Based Learning assignment. In the video Project Based Learning Part 1 and Project Based Learning Part 2 I learned one of the most important aspects to creating an effective PBL is not to limit your students. Yes, have an end goal in mind, but set up the project in a way in which the students can go beyond the assumed outcome. Also, PBLs should not be used as a form of testing ones knowledge at the end of a unit, but they should be used to allow the students to learn about the content within that unit. There are also many helpful sights that can promote a successful PBL.

  Dr. Strange and Mr. Capps mentioned two helpful websites: ICurio and Discovery Education, both of theses sites are beneficial to teachers when conducting PBLs. ICurio is a site which allows students to safely search websites which are filtered for educational purposes. It can be used a search engine for students and also allows students to stay virtually organized. Discovery Education is a site that has taken almost all lesson plans and turned them into videos for students. This brings experts into the classroom and enriches the students learning experience.

  Lastly, was the discussion of formatting. According to Anthony Capps, there are essentially four layers in conducting a PBL. First, you must make sure the project fits into the lesson plan, and will actually benefit the students. You may hear of a great project, but if it is random to the curriculum being studied it will not benefit the students. Secondly, unit size, make sure every part of your project shows connectivity to your lesson plans and builds upon itself, instead of just throwing an intimidating project at your students, effectively build the project up in staircase form. Thirdly, plan out your weekly lesson, do this by making sure you have a designed plan of how you are going to approach the project from week to week. Lastly, you must have a daily plan. Each day you should have a hook in order to keep your students interested and engaged everyday, so that they do not grow bored of the project.