Vision Statement
My vision is to provide students with a 21st Century learning community in which students become life-long learners, prepared college, career, and life after graduation. I will provide a student-centered, teacher-facilitated learning environment that promotes project-based and blended learning. I will empower teachers, students, and parents with innovative technology.
The level of engagement increases when students are motivated to learn. Williamson (2013) included student-directed learning tasks as an indicator of instruction for engagement, empowerment, and deep understanding, retention, and transfer of knowledge. Students are able to hone their organizational and research skills, develop better communication skill, and learn to work well with others. Project-based learning prepares students for college, career, and life. Increasing the level of engagement will increase student achievement, thus also increasing the students’ motivation to learn. Professional development is needed to ensure this vision is meet. Teachers need to know how project-based and blended learning looks.
One suggested project-based learning activity is having students complete a stock market portfolio. Students will download applications compatible to their mobile devices. Students will use the applications to daily track stock market activity for at least five corporations over a two-month time period. Students will use productivity tools to record the data tracked from the stock market by creating an electronic journal. At the start of each week, students will make predictions about their stock and share with the teacher using a blog platform. At the end of the week, students will reflect on their predictions and analyze the data to show how the stock market changed during the week. Students will share their portfolio with the class by creating a presentation including charts and graphs using a presentation tool of their choice. This project-based activity provides an authentic, real-world learning experience for students that will increase their level of engagement and student achievement.
The level of engagement increases when students are motivated to learn. Williamson (2013) included student-directed learning tasks as an indicator of instruction for engagement, empowerment, and deep understanding, retention, and transfer of knowledge. Students are able to hone their organizational and research skills, develop better communication skill, and learn to work well with others. Project-based learning prepares students for college, career, and life. Increasing the level of engagement will increase student achievement, thus also increasing the students’ motivation to learn. Professional development is needed to ensure this vision is meet. Teachers need to know how project-based and blended learning looks.
One suggested project-based learning activity is having students complete a stock market portfolio. Students will download applications compatible to their mobile devices. Students will use the applications to daily track stock market activity for at least five corporations over a two-month time period. Students will use productivity tools to record the data tracked from the stock market by creating an electronic journal. At the start of each week, students will make predictions about their stock and share with the teacher using a blog platform. At the end of the week, students will reflect on their predictions and analyze the data to show how the stock market changed during the week. Students will share their portfolio with the class by creating a presentation including charts and graphs using a presentation tool of their choice. This project-based activity provides an authentic, real-world learning experience for students that will increase their level of engagement and student achievement.