Engaging+Today's+Learner

=Engaging Today's Learner=

The age of the teacher as the primary source of knowledge in the classroom is gone. Today, there are experts and information available through the Internet, students can access new and relevant information not yet discovered by their teacher. Students assume informal and formal roles as teachers.

[|Today's Learner]
===*Students are engaged when they create their own content in the form of text, images, graphics, games, questions, and other activities. ===

Activities that engage students:
  Teachers who involve their students in project-based learning activities also find that their own role logically and naturally changes. The primary tasks are to guide and coach and mentor their students. They teach their students how to question, and how to develop hypotheses and strategies for locating information. They become co-learners as their students embark on a variety of learning projects which chart unfamiliar territory. Most teachers who experience this find it a rewarding experience. When students can share their projects and activities with the "community" they are not the only ones to benefit. Suddenly, they are able to reach a larger audience. Teachers, also, find new collegial connections, support, and encouragement from a wide variety of their peers and content experts.

What are some ways in which students can share their projects and activities?
YouTube TeacherTube SchoolTube Local Media - television and news Parent Days School or district website

How can teachers and students connect with other students, teachers, and content experts?
Free online programs - Skype, Epals, Websites Telephone Television - news School websites Professional Learning Community

Technology Tools
[|Podcast Gallery] Cool Web 2.0 Tools Virtual Field Trips

Examples of Projects

Jennifer Barnett's Wolves Den - Fayetteville High School

[|Examples from The Buck Institute]

Resources

Cool Web 2.0 Tools. Retrieved July 13, 2009, from Educational Oragami Web site: http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/WEB+2.0+Tools

(May 12, 2006). Diana Oblinger Details Today's Learners. Retrieved July 13, 2009, from NASFAA Web site: http://www.nasfaa.org/publications/2006/rnoblinger051206.html

Barnett, Jennifer Retrieved July 13, 2009, from FHS Wolvesden Web site: http://fhswolvesden.wikispaces.com/Jennifer+Barnett

Problem Based Learning Curricular Units. Retrieved July 13, 2009, from Buck Institute for Education Web site: http://www.bie.org/index.php/site/PBL/overview_pbl/