PBL: Developing Standards and Objectives
Question #1: Were there any lessons on ALEX that can become a part of your project-based learning experience?
Question #2: How do your state and national standards compare? In what ways are you incorporating ISTE technology standards?
Question #1: Unfortunately, there weren’t any lesson plans on ALEX that I could use for my project. I did find it interesting that such lessons were available, and I’ll certainly use them in the future. I think my project is just a little “out there” compared to what most people are doing in English 10.
Question #2: I found that the state standards (from the Alabama State Department of Education) are much more specific than the national standards (from the National Council of Teachers of English.) The state standards get down to the nitty-gritty, like using apostrophes and commas correctly, while the NCTE standards simply say, “Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions…to create, critique, and discuss print and non-print texts.” I also found that there were more state standards than the 12 given by NCTE. Interestingly, some of the NCTE standards address ELL students; these weren’t addressed in the Alabama Course of Study.
I am incorporating four of the ISTE technology standards. I am sticking to the general ones, the ones that generally mean that I’m using technology to achieve the goals of the project. I was impressed with these standards, and I wish that teachers were actually held accountable for teaching these. Then again, it would be hard to plan if we needed to consider hitting all of the Alabama Course of Study objectives, the Alabama High School Graduation Exam objectives, the Alabama Direct Assessment of Writing objectives, the AHS pacing guide, AND the ISTE objectives!
Since I am developing a project about Simple Machines, I like the ALEX Lesson Plan that covers “Energy and Work: Amusement Park Style.” This lesson plan allows the teacher to drive the lesson on the Internet or to have a more student-centered technology lesson. I think that this would work well in Physical Science to show students common uses of simple machines, kinetic and potential energy, etc.
I also like the lab on Chromatography and I think that I could use that in Forensics.
To answer the second question, the National Science Standards are more generalized than the State Course of Study Standards. In class now, I think that I use the National Tech Standards well and in my PBL project, the tech standards are focused more on how the student can use technology creatively.
Yes, there were several lessons on the ALEX website that are actually similar to my project based learning experience. The Underground Railroad: Route to Freedom is actually very similar to my lesson, and I wonder if this is where some of us received ideas for this lesson. The other lesson, From Courage to Freedom: Frederick Douglass’s Autobiography has some parts of it that I might be able to use.
Question 2:
Well, I am so glad we have our state standards because I would be lost with our national standards. For the graduation exam, I am glad our state actually breaks down the standards into specific people and specific events for history. I do not have a history degree, so our state standards have really helped me to know what exactly I need to be teaching to our graduation exam preparation students.
For the technology standards, I feel like I cover these daily in my classroom. Just about every activity we complete has some type of technology based component; however, due to time constraints, I wish I had more time to allow for projects, etc. For example, most students only have eight weeks before they have to retake the social studies section of the exam, and that only gives me eight weeks to cover nine chapters. I just don’t have a lot of time for projects. We just get downt to the nitty-gritty of history. It is nice to know the link to view the technology standards.
1. Were there any lessons on ALEX that can become a part of your PBL experience?
I am looking at doing a PBL unit on the Manifest Destiny period in American History. There was one lesson ALEX in particular “Gold Discovered in California” that featured several primary documents which could be a great asset in providing different motivations for Americans’ move West.
2. How do your state and national standards compare? In what ways are you incorporating ISTE technology standards?
I believe I appreciate the state standards mroe than I appreciate the national standards. It was confusing trying to find them, and once I did (I think I did), they were vague. I like the thematic strands they follow, though. In regards to implementing the ISTE standards, I believe I attempt to do that throughout each lesson. Through interactive discussion, multi-media presentations, and primary document analysis, I believe I use this throughout any given unit.
In regards to question 1, I found elements of lessons that I could incorporate but nothing in terms of full lessons. It is very difficult to simply take another person’s lesson plan and implement it in its entirety.
Looking at question 2, I have to somewhat repeat what Ryan said. The NCSS charges money to look at specific standards but otherwise provides some lofty vague themes. I really liked how well the ITSE standards were written. I found these to be very helpful in envisioning my future unit.
The Earth Movers project is similar to a webquest I do to help students construct their own knowledge about plate tectonic theory. I have Space Station project in which students design their own space station out of pop bottles. It is amazing how hard it is for them to grasp the fact that astronauts don’t need chairs and tables!
The state standards are more specific than the national standards. I think they are more realisitic. I do like how NSTA tablulated the shift in emphasis that their standards address. For example, the shift is away from “knowing scientific facts” to “understanding scientific concepts”. As a result, they emphasize inquiry learning and process skills.
The technology standards are interesting. I think I apply some of them in my project based learning, but there are some I have not utilized. For example, my students do not publish webpages. I don’t think I cover any of the standards listed under technology operations and concepts.