The implementation of my ImagineIT project looks slightly different in for each of the four classes I teach, however in each class I specifically addressed the dilemma of how technology is used in school through the use of a classroom sketchnote. In order to bring out more awareness on their part, students were encouraged to add to the sketchnote explaining how they used technology in their lives anytime they finished other assignments early or towards the end of class. The result was my students were much more cognizant and responsible in using their technology at school as a tool to aid them in recording and presenting their work to others.
The progression from guided inquiry to student-driven inquiry is beginning to unfold itself best in my Period 2 bilingual class. For this class, there was some confusion about the types of variables in an experiment. I added an activity from the PBS Learning Media website that gave them very concrete examples of controlled variables and tested variables. From that point I assigned them to come up with testable questions for their first inquiry. They were very curious about human behavior and finally formed groups around the following questions appearing to the right. We analyzed the testability of each and the students finally eliminated #6 and #8.
Once I approved their experimental design, procedures, and Informed Consent forms, they were allowed to recruit student volunteers and began carrying out their experiments. This was the point in which I experienced the most internal conflict - how much do I lead, guide, let go?! It has been different for each group in Period 2. The last few days the lab was abuzz as they brought in student volunteers, had them sign consent forms, carried out their experiment and captured as much as possible through the use of iPads and/or video cameras. The sense of purpose was ideal. Stay tuned for their published work!
The progression from guided inquiry to student-driven inquiry is beginning to unfold itself best in my Period 2 bilingual class. For this class, there was some confusion about the types of variables in an experiment. I added an activity from the PBS Learning Media website that gave them very concrete examples of controlled variables and tested variables. From that point I assigned them to come up with testable questions for their first inquiry. They were very curious about human behavior and finally formed groups around the following questions appearing to the right. We analyzed the testability of each and the students finally eliminated #6 and #8.
Once I approved their experimental design, procedures, and Informed Consent forms, they were allowed to recruit student volunteers and began carrying out their experiments. This was the point in which I experienced the most internal conflict - how much do I lead, guide, let go?! It has been different for each group in Period 2. The last few days the lab was abuzz as they brought in student volunteers, had them sign consent forms, carried out their experiment and captured as much as possible through the use of iPads and/or video cameras. The sense of purpose was ideal. Stay tuned for their published work!