Keeping students engaged in a 1:1 environment

Creating Students’ Survival Guide to the Web

I recently wrote a post about the world of Infotention at Voices of the Learning Revolution. This article was posted by Mindshift on the 14th of February. The original article led me to this post Keeping students engaged in a 1:1 project based classroom. I often talk to students about how they spend their time at school and if they plan their work. After a day of block scheduling I ask them; did you spend your time wisely? Did you get the work done. On a scale from 1 -10 they they usually hit a 4 or 5. Here is what I did when my class had the whole day to work on an in-depth project in International English: see curriculum goals here:  international English curriculum goals.

Lesson plan:

1. Before starting work each student gets sticky notes and starts writing the day’s goals. One on each note. Examples of goals found below.
2. Teacher sits in the back of the classroom (to be able to see the computer screens). Preferably walk around and talk with students as much as possible. It is easier for the students to ask for help if the teacher asks questions about the project.
3. Students give teacher sticky notes as they progress in their work. See who has the most notes at teacher’s desk at the end of the work day.
4. Put notes in stacks and pair students with a new partner. Each student reads the other’s notes and checks that all the goals are met. On a new note they write down the grade for the day’s work and advice on how to progress. Write down what went well, and what could have been done differently. Could you do more? End the note with at least one encouraging sentence about the project!

Example of goals for students:

• Create an outline of my project
• Write my introduction
• Find (number) pictures about…
• Finish (number) slides for my Power Point/Keynote
• Find at least three database articles on theme use these search engines…
• Draft at least three paragraphs
• Peer-coach your shoulder partner and give edit so-and-so’s essay
• Other goals for the day