Task_3-5 (Buddha's)

Our Screenr presentation on Problem Based Learning and Business Academy, can be found at:  http://screenr.com/iqa7.

I narrated the screenr presentation for our group.  That was my contribution to our group.  I know that Jason has been busting his butt to facilitate group discussion, to facilitate group input on SLO's and pretty much keep our group together.  Kayelani, Johanna, and I helped out by contributing as much information as we could into weekly forums, to be cheerleaders and inspiration guides for our group.

College is a challenge as many of our group mates have been balancing, life, family, stress, grades, work, homework, and graduation from Leeward all during this spring semester. 

Problem based learning is a good model of instruction to have.  I think that it will go a long way with our students if we use this model at Honoka'a High and Intermediate.  I have learned that with real life scenarios, and allowing students to think outside of the box and to apply what they have learned, they will have more insight and skills to apply in their future careers.

I think that it is great to have students start being able to develop those critical thinking skills, for they can't be taught by methods of reading in a textbook and trying to visualize what the teacher and author want them to learn.

Research has shown, that there are all types of learners.  Problem based learning is beneficial because it appeals to all learners, and has students come up with different solutions to real problems.  Research has also shown, that employers will be more apt to hiring students with skills such as being a team player, being prompt to work, and being a problem solver.  What better to introduce students to the Problem based learning method early in the middle school and high school years to better prepare them to be college and career ready.

Task_3-4 Reflection (Authentic Assessment)

I looked up a site on Authentic Assessment and found an article by Daniel Callison.  The URL is:  http://www.ala.org/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/slmrb/editorschoiceb/infopower/selctcallison.

The article came under the heading of American Association of School Librarians.  I just wanted to read more about Authentic Assessment to find out what it was about so I could contribute to my group.  I emailed Jason to contribute my ideas about what I found and this week, for the Screenr presentation, I added my voice to the powerpoint presentation. 

I know Jason was up early this morning about 1am because I was up at that time stressing about school, jobs, and life, and I went onto our Laulima site, and he was plugging away on our presentation. 

The role I had this week was contributing ideas to our weekly forum, and contributing ideas about Authentic Assessment, and doing our "voice over" for our Authentic Assessment Power Point presentation.

I know that we are all juggling our jobs, life, schoolwork, stresses, and familiy life and I think our group is handling our overall group work okay.  I basically try to stay on the positive side when my life goes topsy turvy.  I try to contribute as best as I can and try to encourage as much as I can.

As far as our group, we have had our fair share of trials and tribulations, but in the end, we do what we need to do to best complete our assignments to the best of our ability.  I think in life, as long as we plug away, ask questions, try to keep on the bright side as much as possible, it all works out in the end.

Task_3-3 Reflection Group: Buddha's

I know that this week I did not contribute to the group's progress in our project.  I did not contribute any editing, or proofreading, nor did I preview the memo's or orientation letter.  I feel that for me, I got busy with life, jobs, and taking care of mom.  My Leeward coursework fell by the wayside and I'm ashamed of that and I feel really bad.

Jason has been diligently from start to finish been plugging away at our forums, our assignments and has been hard at work with working on and presenting each piece of our project on time.  I know that Kayelani and Johanna and I contributed to parts of the project. 

It seems that everyone is busy with life and obligations to family, school, jobs, and other current issues.  Online schooling is very hard because it is easy to let it fall to the wayside and then start reading or doing assignments at the last minute.  It is also easy to fall behind, and get distracted by other things as well. 

I have forgotten that there are people counting on us in our group, and people are trying to get coursework done, pass, and meet graduation requirements.  I feel very bad because by me not contributing, that means that I'm not pulling my weight, and not working to my full potential.

In the coming weeks, I hope to be more dedicated because the semester is almost over, and I hope to ignite a fire under my butt, and contribute more, and procrastinate and worry less.