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1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers: a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness

b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources

c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes d. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments

My review is about the article ePals. I think this global community is GREAT! It is almost like the MoneySaver. I can search different topics that have already been posted by other teachers who are wishing to collaborate on a specific topic, or I can post my own topic and let others get in touch with me. And this is GLOBAL so anyone from around the world can find me in the smallest school in Pennsylvania! The topic can be of any nature (obviously educationally related) that other schools may have an interest in also. It is very easy to access and use.

I use project based learning in a small and simplified way for learning in some of my health classes. Occassionally, I do use small collaborative groups to highlight short sections of a unit and then teach what they have learned to the rest of the class. For example, when I teach the different Body Systems Unit, one group will be assigned to cover the Circulatory System, another group will cover the Respiratory System, and so on. Students primarily use their textbooks for their research although, a few groups will use the computer lab. I do like these types of student projects, but they almost always try to get me to do some of the work for them, or ask questions that they could easily find the answers to on the internet. That's one of the downsides to this project. Another is that one or more groups may not do an adequate job and then I have to spend more time re-teaching the material that the class is missing out on. So sometimes the amount of time that a project like this can take up, can also take even more time because I have to re-teach it. Hopefully, sooner than later, our school will have the technology and a reduced filter system so that some of these tools can be utilized. I think using a graphic organizer like Mind42, or a wiki would be a great way to start incorporating project based learning into my health classes. I think they would really enhance the Body Systems Unit I teach.

When thinking back on the article I read, "Rolling on the River", and the video I watched, "Flat Classroom Project", they both were similar. They were about completely different projects or lessons, but they both did use higher order thinking skills in a real-world context using a constructivist instructional approach. I completed my discussion, then read other students' posts and realized they had similar experiences and findings about the articles they read and the videos they watched. We as educators need to move forward into the 21st century with our teaching methods as time moves forward also. We cannot continue to teach like we were once taught while we were in school by the "traditional methods". By using higher order thinking skills, real-world context, and a constructivist instructional approach, we can better prepare our students for the future.

Some of the resources that I will need for my Integration Plan will come from The American Cancer Society, The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I know that as part of my integration plan, I will be using a graphic organizer. I have already selected to use Mind42, so I already have the resource bookmarked. I am aware of the other resources, but I'm sure I will find more that will be of great use when I do search for more information. I will use Boolean operators to help with my searching and use of search engines. I'll use such Boolean operators such as, "side-effects of tobacco" and "effects of tobacco on the body". I'll also try "short-term effects of tobacco use" and "long-term effects of tobacco use".