PBL’s and 21C Fluencies

I’ve utilized Project Based Learning (PBL) for the past 4 years. I still would not consider myself an expert in it but I am definitely experienced. To do it properly, you will be engaged and working hard and so will your students. It will take their learning to the next level and will be purposeful. I want to prepare my students for their future, and equip them with the skills they need to experience success in their future. PBL’s offers me this opportunity.

In the future, I will reveal some of the specific activities I’ve done and offer some advice, but here are some great resources to get you started.

What Project-Based Learning Is — and What It Isn’t

Edutopia on PBL’s

Buck Institute for Education (BIE) on PBL’s

Global Digital Citizen – 21C Fluencies – great stuff here that will provide you with a logical, organizational framwork to help you with your PBL journey. I wish I had this when I first started many years ago. It would have saved some time and growing pains. But we do learn from our mistakes so it wasn’t all bad.

PBL Ideas eBook

Global Digital Citizen Resources All On One Page *Resources galore!

 

Super cool! Can you give this a try?

Here is a cool idea to try or adapt for your own use. Thanks to @JCasaTodd @gcouros for making me aware of this.

With tools like Google Hangouts, this is very easy to pull off.

I’m back!

Yes, I am still fully immersed in the daily workings of all things ELL and Technology.

Things have changed quite a bit since I created this blog in 2009.

I still promote and make use of technology on a daily basis with my ELL students, but I use a variety of tools and that list changes regularly — and it should since technology is ever changing.

A lot of what I use now is Google related – Google Apps for Education (GAFE), and Chrome with its many extensions and applications. Why? It’s free and accessible anywhere, from any device. And with its translation tools, it’s a no-brainer to use with ELL students. Plus, these tools make collaboration much easier among students in the execution of effective PBL’s (I will post about PBL’s in the future but here is a link to get you started).

I hope to pop in and post regularly and provide helpful tips and ideas. But you can always catch up and keep current with me on Twitter (@EducatorHoss) – the feed is on the right hand side, and on Google+ (but that account is only visible to employees of the YCDSB).

All the best in your quest to optimize the use of technology with our ELL students.

RH

Welcome!

Welcome ESL educators!

The goal of this site is to promote the use of technology in the ESL classroom.

Hopefully, after visiting each section of this site, you will come to the realization that the use of technology with our English Language Learners in this digital age is necessary. Regardless of your own proficiency with computers or other types of technology.

All of the pages are on the right side. Visit them all, learn a few things, and add some ideas of your own so that we can learn from you.

Enjoy your visit!