Chapter 8 Reading Response

When classrooms are working on projects, it is beneficial for the students to branch out and connect with other people rather than just people inside their school.  Having connections with adults such as authors, writers and executives from companies is a great way to ask certain questions.  First, teachers should look up people for their students to meet or Skype through the internet.  They need to assess their students to make up questions to ask so they can better their understanding for the project they are working on.  After the teachers do it once, students should be taught how to locate experts by themselves and contact them.  Also, a community is a pretty big place for students to reach out but globally is an even better way to connect and find out interesting materials.  That is when technology comes to good use, blogs and classroom websites is a good way for others to see the work that is being done and comment positive or negative feedback.  The EAST initiative model teaches students that technology is purposeful for real life issues and projects.  EAST initiative started in Arkansas and reached out to two hundred sixty school and expanded from high school programs to elementary schools. This initiative consists of four ideas and were part of the original design.  The first idea is student-driven learning which is telling students to be responsible for their own learning. The second idea is authentic project-based learning, students need to be engaged in solving real world problems in their communities.  The third idea is technology as tools-students access to the relevant technologies that professionals use to solve real problems. The last idea is collaboration: students collaborate in teams to pursue authentic projects as they accomplish more than any one person can do in isolation.  It is a good idea to let students lead their own projects because the project is in their own hands and they are in full control.  If its what they care about, it is certain they will finish it.  Projects can be lifelong and have a lifespan so putting more time into it will create a fantastic project.  Students contribute their knowledge and research into their project and that contributes to their school.