Kids Using Technology Instead of Textbooks Engaged Learning Video

I have just started my master’s degree in Instructional Technology. Once of the first and most important things that I have learned about is Engaged Learning. This is so important to giving students meaningful and authentic learning experiences. I was searching to find a video that showed this, and I found it on http://Edutopia.org. This is a great place to find Engaged Learning projects. I found a video called Learning Landscape: Kids Monitor Terrain with Tech. The project takes place at J.A. Hughes Elementary School in Red Lake Falls Minnesota. Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth graders there work with the Glacial Ridge Wildlife Refuge. Four times a year the students go out to what once was, prairie wetlands, and collect data on temperature, water, air, and pH readings. They also study the habitat and animals found there. Students are able to use portable computers, temperature probes, and cameras to assist them in collecting all this data. This project was designed for upper elementary grade levels, to work in teams. The older students teach the younger students how to complete field work. The work the students do is so important because this is the largest prairie wetland restoration in U.S. history. The students then go back to the classroom and write a report and share what they have found with the scientists at Glacial Ridge Wildlife Refuge.
This is such a great engaged learning experience for students because it is real. The students are the actual scientists. They have the hands on experiences. They are given the computers, temperature probes, and cameras to collect the data. They are also the ones researching and finding the biodiversity found on the Refuge. The teachers are only serving as guides to help or direct students when needed. Another indicator of engaged learning is the collaboration that goes on. First, the students collaborate in their teams. The sixth graders teach the fifth and fourth graders how to collect the data so those students are able to continue the project when the older students have left. The team members are each responsible for being an expert on their assigned plant or animal. They then, report that expertise to their team. Last, as a whole, the class collaborates with the Glacial Ridge Wildlife Refuge by reporting their findings in a report. This report serves as a performance based assessment for not only their science content standards but also some of their math standards since they are analyzing temperatures and measurements of land. Since this project is taught to younger students each year the assessment is ongoing, which is another great indicator of engaged learning.
There are a few areas of engaged learning that could be strengthened. While watching this video I failed to find an area where students were forced to solve any problems or use any strategies to do so. Another area of weakness was asking or answering questions about their data. The students collected the data using some great technologies and wrote a report, but I did not see any students asking or seeking answers to questions they might have had about their findings. The teacher only suggested ways to find answers. The teachers could have encouraged the students to find out why their data might have looked a certain way. What were the causes? How can we help the wildlife refuge and maintain the biodiversity that is still found there? Therefore, I would say this project would fall on the Application Level of Bloom’s taxonomy. Students are using their knowledge gained and writing a report about what they found but are they comparing their reports. They could compare their findings from each visit to the refuge and discuss how it has changed and what the underlying causes could be. This might make this project more challenging and give the students a chance to analyze and dig deeper into the data.
I still consider this to be a great engaged learning project. On a scale of 1-10 my students would be on a 10 when it comes to being motivated to complete this project. They would love going outdoors and using the latest in technology to collect data. Knowing they were working with actual scientist, which were holding them accountable for their findings, would also motivate them. This would give them true meaning to their work. Without the technology the teachers were able to get from a grant, the students would not have been able to complete the project accurately. Their data for air and water temperature might be incorrect. A pH level might be invalid if it was obtained manually. Students in different groups might have completely different results. The use of these temperature probes and computers to collect this data was an excellent use of technology. Students had” the know how” and were actually able to use these tools correctly without them being too difficult or tedious. Technology that could be used to enhance this learning experience might be something like Skype or another form of video conferencing. Students could actually talk with the scientist from the wildlife refuge and discuss their findings or ask any questions they might have. The level of technology implementation (LoTi) is 4. It has many engaged learning indicators and it is a truly authentic learning experience. The students even work with outside sources on their field work. The only thing that is not present to me is the use of higher order thinking skills such as analysis. Otherwise, this project would be a LoTi level 5.
This would be a great learning model for teachers and administrators. This project can show teachers how to think outside the textbook box and work with local outside sources to create meaningful learning experiences for students. It also shows teachers how students can use technology effectively. Some teachers might want the ease of having a prepackaged program with software and probes already available to use. The difficulty may be in locating and being able to use tools like the students at J.A. Hughes Elementary.
As I have gone through the process of locating and analyzing engaged learning videos, I can see how it is possible to create or even find great, authentic, real world learning experiences for my own students. The teacher in this video stated how she doesn’t even use a science textbook because it is outdated as soon as she gets it. She has her students become the self-learners. She listed multiple sites with valuable best practices, interactive, standards based lessons. It might take some extra work to create these engaged learning experiences but it is definitely worth it when you see how motivated your students are to learn and take ownership of their learning.