Project learning can inspire the best of high-performance teamwork, or it can be devolve into unfocused chaos. How can we support each other to keep our eye on the prize? Share your project ideas, questions, and implementation experiences.
Emergent Curriculum
Edutopia explores project based learning and integrated studies. Both are elements of Emergent Curriculum Why aren't we discussing Emergent curriculum beyond the early childhood classroom? If you aren't familiar with the term I did a recent blog post on the topic. I'd like to find more examples of emergent curriculum in upper grades and how teachers are using it successfully.
http://popgoestheclassroom.com/2011/08/08/rabbit-trail-learning-with-eme...
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Rabbit Trail Learning with Emergent Curriculum Part 2
I guess my initial post isn't generating the kind of dialogue I was hoping for. Perhaps a more detailed explanation will help.
http://popgoestheclassroom.com/2011/08/15/rabbit-trail-learning-with-eme...
I'd like to begin a dialogue about how teachers are using these techniques.
Hi KellyAnn, I've tweeted out
Hi KellyAnn,
I've tweeted out your question to the Twitter community. I'll share the findings for you.
Thank you Hubert
n/t
Flexibility with the Plan
I thought this was great- do you think it's a title problem? Rabbit Trail learning sounds a bit like a new 1-3rd grade reading program :)
I agree with you entirely- lesson plans like good military plans are meant to be jumping off points, and should be flexible enough to allow for serendipity and student interest to flourish. ("No great battle plan survives contact with the enemy- they get a vote in how it goes, too.)
Without flexibility for emergent learning, you get a very rote, one size fits all experience. You have disconnected students who get the message that the teacher is more interested in what they say than what you as a student are getting out of it or understanding.
I know we all love lesson plans as a framework of what we need to cover, but isn't the learning the end point rather than finishing the plan itself?