Reflection #10

  1.       Reflection is an important part of project based learning. Reflection time can be important because it helps students to feel good about the work that they put into their project and overall helps the learning to really stick. Reflection helps students reveal things that they might not otherwise think about, such as what they learned, what they enjoyed about learning, the growth they made throughout the project and what/how they want to learn in projects ahead.

  2.       Reflection is important because students can determine how the project was personally meaningful to them. They can also reflect on the skills they developed, collaboratively, through technology and in other disciplines, such as writing. They can also think back on the challenges, frustrations and joys that they experienced during the project, thinking about obstacles that they faced and how they overcame those obstacles. Also, always wrap up reflection thinking about the positives of the project and how it was a gratifying experience to be a part of.

  3.       Schools can build tradition and identity through the project based learning that is present. Many times, projects carry over through the years. Some things about the project might change year to year, but the overall concept might stay the same. Older children will talk to their siblings or younger grades and tell them how much fun the project was to do. This excitement will get future students excited to be in that class and doing the same sort of project. Once these future students reach the project ground, they will be excited to work on the project and will feel like it is a privilege to honor the tradition and work hard on the project at hand.

  4.       It is always important to celebrate a project so the students can take pride in their work. Teachers and students could plan an event, create a blog, or hold a party to display student work. At these celebrations there should always be a time to look back and reflect, an acknowledgement of how hard work paid off for the success of the project, thank yous to people who helped in the creation of the project, and a display of student work to show the learning that took place.

  5.       The concept of reflection is an important one to remember for our project. Our students can reflect over their hard work and think about the joys and frustrations of the project and how it helped them to become better learners and how they can take pride in their school. Celebrating our project will also be another important step to take. We could have a display of school brochures and members of the staff that helped to give information for the brochures can stop by and see how their input was incorporated into the project.