Week 8 - Improving my project??

I've been trying to think about ways to improve my project. The one thing I want to do is find a way to use more technology. I've gotten some ideas from my blog buddies about having students create videos on interview skills and using Excel to possibly show how to create a budget based on a given salary.

I really like the video idea but I think they might get more out of planning a budget. I'm still not sure what I will do to add more technology to my project but as always I am open to more suggestions and advice.

Another reason why I am leaning towards using Excel to create a budget is because I have done similar activities in the past. For example, I have used a website, Reality Check, to let my students see how much money they will need to make a week in order to afford some of the things that they need/want in their lives. It's not a very detailed activity but it's a great starter when beginning a career unit. The kids usually enjoy it, too. I also do an Excel project in our classroom book that deals with creating a budget. I think a combination of these two activities along with a real world connection will be a great addition to the project.

Let me know what you think.

Week 7 - Assessing Student Learning

Assessing student learning is a very important part of instruction. If teachers assess what the students are learning then they can use that information to determine the effectiveness of the instruction. Many teachers use rubrics to assess their students' learning, which I think is an excellent way to do this. I have just recently started using rubrics in my classroom. A rubric lets the students know exactly what they need to do on an assignment. When creating a rubric you need to be very clear on what you expect to be done because this is what the students are going to use to complete the task. Without clear and detailed instructions you may not be able to accurately assess or judge your students' work. Without accurate assessment you may not be able to determine what the students are learning or how effective your instruction is.

In my project I plan on using several different rubrics. I will have to be very clear about what I expect the students to do on each assignment so I can accurately assess what they have learned.

Nothing to report on my project idea at this time. I like several of the ideas that my blog buddies have given me lately, like incorporating video and Excel into my project. I am still working on what else I can add. Thanks for all of your ideas and advice.