Transcript PBL rainbow
中山女高 陳彩虹
Online Projects
in High School Classrooms
Issues to be addressed
Introduction: PBL (Project-based Learning)
Obstacles to implementing PBL in high school teaching context
An example in computer-mediated classrooms: Epals
An example in none computer mediated classrooms: Forums
Project-based Learning
Project-based learning (PBL) is a model for classroom activity that shifts away from the classroom practices of short, isolated, teacher-centered lessons and instead emphasizes learning activities that are long-term, interdisciplinary, student centered, and integrated with real world issues and practices.
Howard Gardner © San Mateo County Office of Education Seymour Papert
Components of PBL
• Content-based • Multimedia • Student-centered • Collaboration among students • Real world connection • An extended time frame • An innovative approach to assessment © San Mateo County Office of Education
Obstacles
• Students’ (low) language level.
• Difficulty in finding partner classes.
• Interference with normal classes.
• Tight class schedule.
• The amount of preparation involved.
Computer Room 1
Computer Room 2
Project 2002-3
• Name: Cross-cultural Epal Project • Duration: One year • Selected site:
• Participants: Taiwanese & Italian students • Products: Epal websites, videos & an action research study
Epals (www.epals.com)
• Why did I choose the epal project out of so many projects available?
• What preparations did we make?
How did I find my partner classes?
What activities did we do? How?
• What difficulties did we encounter?
What were was students’ feedback?
• How was the partnership between both teachers maintained?
1. Correspondence
• • Getting to Know Your Epals My Typical Day htm • Our City • Christmas Around the World htm • New Year/Carnalvale • Terrorist Attack
2. Photo Swap
• Meet Your Pals
(Chatroom)
3. Video Swap
• Timeline • Topics • Outline htm • Lines • Shooting A Teenage Hangout A Guide to CSGHS Taiwanese Music • Editing • Products Video from Italy • Viewing partner classes’ product
4. Epal Web Page
• Example htm • Select photos • Writing descriptions • Editing • Web page designing • Announce URL to partner classes htm
Suggestions
• Teach how & what to write.
• Show good examples.
• Deal with language problems (when absolutely needed).
• Deal with non-response issue.
• Always monitor but respect students' privacy.
Handout htm
Student Feedback
11‘50“ • • Positive feedback Negative feedback htm htm
Suggestions
1. Specify your goals and your desired types of learners for the epal project in the call for epals. 2. Decide on a compatible partner class in terms of English level, class size and technology support. 3. Do not announce to your class before the project is set up. 4. Make sure of the commitment level from both sides of the partnership.
Project 2003-4
• Name: Discussion Forums • Duration: One year • Selected sites: NICENET & IWiLL
• Participants: Taiwanese & Italian students • Products: (Ongoing)
Discussion Forums
• Why did I choose discussion forums instead of ePals this time?
• What preparations did we make ?
• What activities are we going to do?
• What difficulties will we encounter?
• What will be students’ feedback?
• Will the teacher partnership be maintained?
Preparations
• Choose suitable forums • Divide students into groups • Assign group leaders • Decide on a schedule to follow
More Options
• ePALS Projects http://www.epals.com/projects • iEARN http://www.iearn.org/projects • Montage plus http://www.montageplus.co.uk
• Mailing Lists (eg.
) http://sl-lists.net/
Mailing Lists
• News Lessons: EVENT-SL, ENEWS-SL • Language Corner: Phrasal Verb of the Day, LearnEnglishNow • Class Newspaper: MOVIE-SL, MUSIC-SL, SPORT-SL
Conclusion
“You know, this activity can be seen by traditional teachers as a waste of time or something to be done as an extra activity. But if I compare the output of my students [now] to the output of the students I had in the past, … I really can mark the difference. Of course the results are not easy to achieve, it needs a long time (months!) and a lot of work, but it's rewarding!”
– my Italian partner teacher (2003-Feb-27)
Teacher References
• Motivating English Language Learners of High School Age with a Cross-cultural Epal Project ( 台北市第四屆行動研究論文集 ) • Free Discussion Forum Hosting Services http://www.kyoto su.ac.jp/information/tesl-ej/ej26/m1.html